Production and characterization of liquid biofuels from locally available nonedible feedstocks

Abstract

Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) seeds were exploited as possible nonedible feedstock for the synthesis of liquid biofuels, namely, biodiesel and bio‐oil via alkali–alcoholysis and pyrolysis routes, respectively. The alkali–alcoholysis reaction of mandarin seed oil with an equivalent mixture of methanol–ethanol alcohols was examined and optimized by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The best experimental yield of biodiesel (95.55 ± 1.55 wt.%) was comparable with the predicted yield (95.0 wt.%). Also, analysis by one‐way ANOVA showed that the selected variables were statistically significant. The 1H NMR spectroscopy asserted the transformation of the oil to biodiesel. Also, the evaluated properties of the biodiesel were in the range given by ASTM D6751 standards. The mandarin citrus seeds have also subjected to the thermal pyrolysis process in a fixed‐bed reactor to obtain bio‐oil and bio‐char. The influence of the pyrolysis temperature, time, feed particle size, and heating rate on the bio‐oil yield was optimized. The highest yield of bio‐oil (52.34 ± 1.25 wt.%) was attained at 475°C for 60 min using 70 mesh particle size of the feed with a heating rate of 20°C/min. The bio‐oil was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H NMR spectroscopy, and ultimate analysis. The bio‐oil derived from MCS has an empirical formula of CH1.88 O0.16 N0.012 S0.0005 with 37.96 MJ/kg of heating value. The elevated carbon level, low oxygen content, and high calorific value (25.45 MJ/kg) of the attained bio‐char suggest its suitability as a solid fuel. Also, the obtained bio‐char can be utilized for preparing carbon adsorbent as a result of its good surface area.

Intermediate Pyrolysis of Desert Date Shell for Conversion to High‐Quality Biomaterial Resources

“…This outcome is the consequence of the secondary decomposition reactions on the pyrolysis vapor and residual biochar. Similar results were also reported during the pyrolysis of hyacinth 40, milk thistle ( Silybum marianum L.) seeds 21 and Mandarin ( Citrus reticulata ) seeds 8.…”

“…Pyrolysis is a promising conversion pathway to renewable fuel and chemical products comparable to the other thermochemical conversion processes. Several pyrolysis studies are performed on different biomasses such as prickly pear and gumweed 4, woody biomass, agro‐residues and seed cake 5, Acacia cincinnata and Acacia holosericea 6, date palm 7, mandarin citrus seeds 8, and de‐oiled castor seed cake 9. The different biomasses decomposed under pyrolysis conditions through complex reactions to primarily vapor and residual biochar.…”

“…Biomass wastes hosting a requisite amount of cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose produced quality bio-oils with attractive properties to serve as a precursor for the production of biofuels and chemicals. The physicochemical examinations depict the bio-oil as a highly viscous dark brown liquid with a pH of 2-3 and 20-30 % water content [8].…”

Double‐shelled hollow mesoporous silica incorporated copper (II) (Cu/ DS‐HMS‐NH 2 ) as a catalyst to promote in‐situ esterification/transesterification of low‐quality palm oil

“…Several functional groups, for example, the bending vibrations of -CH, -CH 2 , -CH 3 (1395, 1187, and 760 cm À1 for DPO and 1395, 1181, and 754 cm À1 for FAME), their respective stretching bands (3024, 2953, and 2876 cm À1 for DPO and 3030, 2929, and 2858 cm À1 for FAME), carbonyl (C=O, 1786 cm À1 for DPO and 1756 cm À1 for FAME), C-O stretching band (1140 cm À1 for DPO and 1134 cm À1 for FAME) are monitored in both spectra. Fadhil (2021) 52 also reported similar spectra for bio-oil from the non-edible feedstock, indicating that oils and fats generally consist of the same functional groups. However, the FTIR spectra of FAME show a new signal at 1465 cm À1 which indicates the presence of the ester group with its deformation vibration.…”

Biodiesel production from Lipidium sativum L.seed oil by alkali-catalyzed transesterification with different alcohols: Evaluation and analysis of biodiesels

“…With increasing the TE period, the BD yield raised so that the best EBD yield achieved after 75 minutes of the TE reaction, while the best conversion of the GCSO to MEBD completed after 1h of alcoholysis reaction. Still, the BD yield dropped as the reaction period exceeded the optimal time for the TE as a consequence of the degradation of part of the obtained BD to FFA [28][29][30]. Enhancing the intact area between the GCSO and alcohol-KOH solution can result in a better transformation of the oil to BD.…”