Hydrodeoxygenation process for converting glycerol into bio-crude / by Matthew A. Tymchyshyn.

Abstract

"Bio-energy is a clean (containing negligible sulfur and being near-carbon neutral), renewable and abundant source of energy. Bio-energy can be a potential alternative to fossil fuels for the production of energy and chemicals. Due to the world's increasing energy demands, declining petroleum reserves and growing concerns over the detrimental environmental effects of fossil fuels, there is an increased interest in the production of bio-fuels (bio-ethanol, bio-diesel and bio-oils) from biomass feedstocks. The increased production of bio-diesel by trans-esterification of vegetable oils has resulted in a glut of glycerol as a by-product. Economically beneficial utilization of the glycerol would greatly enhance bio-diesel plant production economics. Part I of this research investigated the effectiveness of various catalysts in the conversion of glycerol into bio-crude at elevated temperature and pressure. The reactions were carried out in an autoclave micro-reactor at a temperature of 300C and an initial pressure of hydrogen of 5 MPa. Gaseous products were collected and analyzed by Micro-GC. The solid products were removed by filtration while the liquid products were separated into water soluble products (unreacted glycerol, acids, alcohols) and water insoluble products (bio-oil/bio-crude) by extraction with water and ethyl acetate. The bio-crude obtained was comprehensively characterized to determine its physical/chemical properties.