Heterogeneous Catalysts for Biodiesel Production Chemistry & IfM Louisiana Tech University Presenter: Upali Siriwardane Presenter: Upali Siriwardane Date: November 5, 2009 Date: November 5, 2009

Summary Statement Bottom line: Renewable energy source and cost effective alternatives to replace petro-diesel. Bottom line: Renewable energy source and cost effective alternatives to replace petro-diesel. Develop heterogeneous to replace homogenous catalysts to minimize waste water and produce value added pure glycerol. Develop heterogeneous to replace homogenous catalysts to minimize waste water and produce value added pure glycerol. Develop a bench scale biodiesel reactor incorporating characteristics of heterogeneous catalysts Develop a bench scale biodiesel reactor incorporating characteristics of heterogeneous catalysts

Research Context and Prior Work Preparation,characterization and optimization of catalysts Fisher-Tropsch (FT): Hydrocarbons from syngas. Fisher-Tropsch (FT): Hydrocarbons from syngas :"Novel Preparations and Magneto Chemical Characterization of Nanoparticle Mixed Alcohol Catalysts" Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory. Water-gas-shift (WGS) : Hydrogen from water and CO Water-gas-shift (WGS) : Hydrogen from water and CO : “Development of Low Cost Membranes (Ta, Nb, and Cellulose Acetate) for H 2 /CO 2 /CO Separation in WGS Reactors,” Department of Energy, National Energy Technology.

Questions to be Addressed Heterogeneous biodiesel catalysts Type of active catalysts: acid/base etc. Type of active catalysts: acid/base etc. Type of catalyst support system: alumina etc. Type of catalyst support system: alumina etc. Type of synthetic procedure: impregnation etc. Type of synthetic procedure: impregnation etc. Techniques for determining efficiency of conversion: GC, HPLC etc. Techniques for determining efficiency of conversion: GC, HPLC etc. Life-time of the heterogenous catalyst: Turnover Frequency Life-time of the heterogenous catalyst: Turnover Frequency Regenerating procedure for catalysts Regenerating procedure for catalysts Effect source of oils on catalytic activity: Vegetable/Fish Effect source of oils on catalytic activity: Vegetable/Fish

Accomplishments to Date Complete literature survey on biodiesel production. Complete literature survey on biodiesel production. Identification of active catalysts: Metal Oxides Identification of active catalysts: Metal Oxides Synthetic procedure to trap active catalyst on support systems: sol-gel/hydrothermal methods. Synthetic procedure to trap active catalyst on support systems: sol-gel/hydrothermal methods. Techniques for determining efficiency of biodiesel conversion: GC analysis (FAME). Techniques for determining efficiency of biodiesel conversion: GC analysis (FAME). Catalysts characterization techniques: DTA/TGA, BET surface area, PXRD, SEM, AFM and TEM. Catalysts characterization techniques: DTA/TGA, BET surface area, PXRD, SEM, AFM and TEM.

Plans for Preparation of nanoparticle metal oxide: M x O y incorporated on supports ( Al 2 O 3, Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 and DLH (double-layered-hydroxides) Mg/Al, Zn/Al. Preparation of nanoparticle metal oxide: M x O y incorporated on supports ( Al 2 O 3, Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 and DLH (double-layered-hydroxides) Mg/Al, Zn/Al. Selection and optimization of heterogeneous catalysts system: GC analysis (FAME). Selection and optimization of heterogeneous catalysts system: GC analysis (FAME). Development of Stainless steel bench scale heterogeneous biodiesel reactor system: Incorporation of selected catalyst Development of Stainless steel bench scale heterogeneous biodiesel reactor system: Incorporation of selected catalyst

Value Proposition Heterogeneous biodiesel production systems are still under investigation: there is no standard technology. Heterogeneous system will replace the homogenous systems. Heterogeneous biodiesel production systems are still under investigation: there is no standard technology. Heterogeneous system will replace the homogenous systems. Heterogeneous system is less polluting and yield less contaminated biodiesel and glycerol: more economical since extra steps to clean biodiesel is not necessary. Heterogeneous system is less polluting and yield less contaminated biodiesel and glycerol: more economical since extra steps to clean biodiesel is not necessary. Heterogeneous system could be adopted to various types of oils: veg-oil/ fish-oil/ animal-fat and spent cooking oil Heterogeneous system could be adopted to various types of oils: veg-oil/ fish-oil/ animal-fat and spent cooking oil

AcknowledgementsCollaborators: Prof. Naidu Seetala, Grambling State University Prof. Sadun Fernando, Texas A & M University Prof. Tabbetha Dobbins, Louisiana Tech University Students: Robert Forester Rakesh A. Talathi Tushar Kudle Steven Brown