Designer Catalysts for High Efficiency Biodiesel Production
Lead Research Organisation:
Newcastle University
Department Name: Chemical Engineering & Advanced Material
Abstract
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Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Adam Harvey (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Davison T
(2013)
Multiscale modelling of heterogeneously catalysed transesterification reaction process: an overview
in RSC Advances
Eterigho EJ
(2011)
Triglyceride cracking for biofuel production using a directly synthesised sulphated zirconia catalyst.
in Bioresource technology
Eze V
(2013)
Heterogeneous catalysis in an oscillatory baffled flow reactor
in Catalysis Science & Technology
Eze V
(2017)
Intensification of carboxylic acid esterification using a solid catalyst in a mesoscale oscillatory baffled reactor platform
in Chemical Engineering Journal
Phan A
(2011)
Continuous screening of base-catalysed biodiesel production using New designs of mesoscale oscillatory baffled reactors
in Fuel Processing Technology
Phan A
(2012)
Rapid Production of Biodiesel in Mesoscale Oscillatory Baffled Reactors
in Chemical Engineering & Technology
Rattanaphra D
(2011)
Kinetic of myristic acid esterification with methanol in the presence of triglycerides over sulfated zirconia
in Renewable Energy
Rattanaphra D
(2010)
Simultaneous Conversion of Triglyceride/Free Fatty Acid Mixtures into Biodiesel Using Sulfated Zirconia
in Topics in Catalysis
| Description | (I) The work led to the finding that biodiesel could be produced in 2 minutes, simply by choosing the correct operating conditions. This could be put to use by biodiesel producers. It would effectively reduce the reactor to a simple pipe between the feed vessels and the downstream processing. (ii) In the project we demonstrated for the first time biodiesel production in an oscillatory baffled "mesoreactor" with suspended solid catalysts. This is a key step forward for the use of this reactor as a reaction screening platform, as it demonstrates one of the key advantages it has over commercial designs: that at the same flowrates and residence times it can easily suspend solid particles, thereby allowing heterogeneously catalysed reactions or solid-liquid reactions to be performed, where this is extremely difficult to do with conventional designs, without substantial modification of the solids. |
| Exploitation Route | The work demonstrated the use of the flow chemistry device that we have developed in-house for screening reactions with liquid and solid phases. That it can handle such combinations of phases gives it a distinct advantage over other flow chemistry platforms. One unit has been sold to a fine chemicals manufacturer, and we would hope to commercialise it further. The operating conditions identified for rapid biodiesel production could be used by any biodiesel producer. This has already been extrapolated to biodiesel production for other feedstocks including waste cooking oils, oilseeds and microalgae. |
| Sectors | Chemicals Energy Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | The findings of this project were part of the basis of a recent Newton fund project in which biodiesel production processes have been developed for rural communities in Thailand. The first demonstrator was put in place in March 2017. The idea is that these communities process their waste oil into biodiesel themselves, to prevent the environmental impact of disposal and to generate their own fuel. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Chemicals,Education,Energy,Environment,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic |
| Description | Catalysis at the Water-Energy Nexus |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R026645/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | EPRSC IAA: Development of a Non-thermal Plasma device to Reduce Combustion Particulate Emissions |
| Amount | £73,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2017 |
| End | 06/2019 |
| Description | Osczyme |
| Amount | £27,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Austrian Research Promotion Agency |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Austria |
| Start | 02/2017 |
| End | 10/2019 |
| Description | PhD Studentship (PTDF) |
| Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | PTDF Petroleum Technology Development Fund Nigeria |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Start | 09/2010 |
| End | 10/2013 |
| Title | Process Screening Platform |
| Description | This project has contributed to development of the reactor system as a process screening platform. |
| Type Of Technology | Physical Model/Kit |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Impact | Reactor unit sold to UK chemical company for process screening. |