Enhanced carbon yields of jet fuel range alkanes were manufactured from cofeeding of lignocellulosic biomass with plastics. The consecutive processes proceeded via the cofeed catalytic microwave-induced pyrolysis and hydrogenation process. In the co-feed catalytic microwave pyrolysis by using ZSM-5 as the catalyst, parent ZSM-5 fabricated by hydrothermal and calcined treatments contributed to the increase of surface area as well as the formation of more mesopores. Liquid organics with enhanced carbon yield (40.54%) were more principally lumped in the jet fuel range from the co-feed catalytic microwave pyrolysis performed at the catalytic temperature of 375 °C with the plastics to biomass ratio of 0.75. To manufacture homemade Raney Ni catalyst, the BET surface area, pore surface area, and pore volume of the homemade Raney Ni catalyst were considerably improved when the Ni-Al alloy was dissolved by the NaOH solution. In the hydrogenation process, we observed the three species of raw organic derived from the co-feed catalytic microwave pyrolysis were almost completely converted into saturated hydrocarbons under a low-severity condition. The improved carbon yield (38.51%) of hydrogenated organics regarding co-reactants of biomass and plastics predominantly match jet fuels. In the hydrogenated organics, over 90% selectivity toward alkanes with the carbon number in the jet fuel range was attained. In this respect, these hydrogenated organics with high amounts of renewable cycloalkanes can be potentially served as high-density jet fuels or additives for
Recent studies suggest
the use of microwave energy in activated
carbon (AC) production emphasizing efficiency specifically in the
pyrolysis step as it can significantly reduce heating time compared
to conventional furnaces. However, there is no documented effort on
the effect of the activating chemical agent on microwave heating dynamics
and its impact on pyrolysis time despite its importance for efficiency
on both technical and economic aspects of the process. Elucidating
the heating rate of H3PO4-activated biomass
under microwave energy is one of the objectives of the research while
the ultimate goal is to find practical H3PO4 concentration for chemical activation of biomass precursors in obtaining
optimum AC yield and textural characteristics. It was found that excessive
H3PO4 has a negative effect of slowing down
pyrolysis time as it promotes poor microwave absorption on the biomass–H3PO4 complex. In addition, H3PO4 undergoing conversion to its anhydride, P2O5, requires relatively high activation energy, and its conversion
may possibly cause extended pyrolysis time. Numerical optimization
revealed chemical activation at 56.50% H3PO4, and pyrolysis under 650 W microwave power is a rational balance
in terms of maximizing yield and surface area while minimizing activating
agents and microwave energy. Under these conditions, a pyrolysis time
of around 30 min, yield at around 39.65 wt %, and surface area of
826.38 m2/g can be expected. However, surface area can
be as high as 1726.5 m2/g but will require 84.83% H3PO4 on activation, about 803.75 W power and 48
min carbonization time.
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