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Combined pyrolysis and sulphided NiMo/Al2O3 catalysed hydroprocessing in a multistage strategy for the production of biofuels from milk processing waste
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Combined pyrolysis and sulphided NiMo/Al2O3 catalysed hydroprocessing in a multistage strategy for the production of biofuels from milk processing waste

Shane McIntosh, Md Nurun Nabi, Lalehvash Moghaddam, Peter Brooks, Parya Samadi Ghandehari and Dirk Erler
Fuel, Vol.295(1), 120602
2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.120602
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Combined pyrolysis and sulphided NiMo/Al2O3 catalysed hydroprocessing in a multistage strategy for the production of biofuels from milk processing wasteView

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Abstract

Pyrolysis Low-oxygenated biofuel Milk processing sludges Bio-oils Heterogeneous catalyst upgrading
Pyrolytic bio-oils derived from renewable organic wastes are credible second-generation biofuels. In crude form, bio-oils are inherently complex mixtures that largely limit their direct application as fuels and integration into existing petroleum infrastructure, without additional upgrading. Herein, we report on low-oxygenated biofuel production from milk processing sludge using a multistage process configuration. In the first stage, bio-oil yields were maximised (57.7%) under slow pyrolysis conditions at 450 °C. Bio-oils were enriched in aliphatic hydrocarbons (19–22% alkanes), (11–14% alkenes) and alkyl nitriles (57–63%), while aromatics remained low at <2%. A relatively low bio-oil O/C molar ratio (0.08 to 0.1) and a correspondingly high HHV (40.8–41.8 MJ/kg) display possible fuel applications. Increasing pyrolysis temperatures (>450 °C) was not beneficial to bio-oil yields, reduced hydrocarbon contents and increased heteroatoms (O, S, N). In the second stage, sulphided Ni-Mo/Al2O3 catalysed hydroprocessing and distillation upgrading of bio-oils generated 100% C8-C22 saturated alkane distillates. With regard to fuel properties, oxygenation (0.26–0.89%), viscosities (4–6 mm2/s) and densities (ca.0.82 g/cm3) were comparable to standard diesel fuels. Resultant HHV (46.24 MJ/kg) and cetane index (69) of distillates produced from 450 °C bio-oils far exceeded those of diesel fuel standards, demonstrating direct fuel application and petroleum fuel compatibility.

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