A review on conversion of triglycerides to on-specification diesel fuels without additional inputs

Abstract

SUMMARY Dependence on fossil fuels for global energy supply has continued to generate concerns about climate change and sustainable development. It has motivated the search for carbon‐neutral alternative resources for the production of transportation fuels to replace crude oil. Although biodiesels have recently emerged as a close substitute to petrol diesel, their use in compression ignition engines designed to run on petro‐diesel fuels are linked to adverse effects on the engines' performance and life span. This informed efforts at upgrading biodiesel or direct conversion of triglycerides to hydrocarbon mixtures that are identical or similar to that of petro‐diesel through hydrodeoxygenation. Moreover, it seems that commercial methods for the conversion of triglycerides to diesel fuels depends on inputs (methanol and hydrogen) derived from fossil fuels. However, it will be desirable to do so without inputs from fossil fuels. Hence, reaction paths for direct conversion of triglycerides to on‐specification hydrocarbons fuels without hydrogen gas input are discussed and suggested strategies are in cognisance of green chemistry principles. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Engineering Escherichia coli to synthesize free fatty acids

“…Acyl thioesters can also be reduced to alcohols [14,16–18], decarboxylated to yield α-olefins [19,20], reduced and deformylated to yield alkanes [17], decarboxylated (from β-ketoacids) to form methyl ketones [21], oxidized and polymerized to form polyesters [22], and condensed to form internal ketones and olefins [23,24] (see Figure Id in Box 1). Chemical catalysis has also been used to convert microbially synthesized FFAs or TAGs to many of these compounds [25–27]. The challenge in utilizing any of these pathways for industrial chemical production is optimizing their function in a living cell, such that the yield of product approaches its theoretical limit.…”

Development of low-temperature properties on biodiesel fuel: a review

“…These oils/fats are characterized according to their oxidation stabilities and cold properties, which are attributed to their fatty acid compositions and chemical structures . The oxidative reactivity would be positively impacted by reducing the relative amounts of linoleic (C18:2) and linolenic (C18:3) acids for oils .…”

“…The development of other feedstock is also of interest [35,[70][71][72][73][74][75][76], not only to further increase the economic viability of biodiesel but also to increase the potential supply of this fuel. These oils/fats are characterized according to their oxidation stabilities and cold properties, which are attributed to their fatty acid compositions and chemical structures [77][78][79]. The oxidative reactivity would be positively impacted by reducing the relative amounts of linoleic (C18:2) and linolenic (C18:3) acids for oils [66,80].…”

Hydrodeoxygenation of fatty acid methyl esters and simultaneous products isomerization over bimetallic Ni‐Co / SAPO ‐11 catalysts

“…[1][2][3][4] The firstgeneration bio-diesel, mainly consisting of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), is produced by transesterification of animal or vegetable oils with methanol in the presence of base or acid catalysts. [5][6][7] Despite high cetane number and low sulfur, FAMEs are not fully compatible with existing combustion engines related to other poor properties, that is, low heating value, instability, high viscosity, and acidity. The origin is mainly resulted from high oxygen content and unsaturated bonds in the molecular structure of FAMEs, which imposes great restriction on their wide application as high-grade liquid fuels.…”