Multiple chemical reactions take place sequentially in the catalyst: the substrate molecules pass through the large pores of a “porous ceramic sponge” for the first reaction, and then enter the slightly smaller pores for the second reaction.
The journal Nature Catalysis reported on October 26 that researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and the University of Western Australia have developed a new high-efficiency catalyst that can recycle waste cooking oil and agricultural waste into biodiesel, as well as convert food scraps and plastic waste into high-value products.
Existing commercial production methods can only process high-purity feedstocks with 1% to 2% contaminant content, and waste cooking oil must undergo an energy-intensive cleansing process before it can be used for biodiesel production. With the facilitation of the new catalyst, the researchers were able to make biodiesel from low-grade feedstocks with contaminant content of up to 50%.
RMIT researcher Professor Adam Lee said, “We have designed a new catalyst that can help people make the most of wasted resources by integrating rotten cooking oil, rice husks and vegetable peels into the circular economy. Using this catalyst for biodiesel production will significantly reduce environmental pollution and bring humans closer to green chemistry.”
To obtain a highly efficient catalyst, the researchers created a micron-sized “ceramic sponge” that is highly porous and contains multiple active ingredients. The substrate molecules enter the “ceramic sponge” through large pores for the first chemical reaction, and then enter slightly smaller pores for the second reaction. This is the first catalyst that can carry out multiple chemical reactions sequentially in a single particle, and it may have a huge impact on the global catalyst market.
RMIT professor Karen Wilson notes that the new sponge-like catalyst draws on the coordination of complex chemical reactions by human cellular enzymes.
Previously developed multi-reaction catalysts have been unpredictable and inefficient in their control of chemical reactions,” Wilson said. Inspired by biological enzymes, we wanted to design an ‘enzyme-like’ catalyst that would allow it to catalyze multiple reactions in a fixed sequence – it would be like cramming an entire miniature production line into a single catalyst particle.”
The sponge-like catalyst is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use – technicians simply add the waste to a giant container, heat it and stir it to obtain biodiesel.
Wilson commented, “This is especially important for developing countries. In these countries, diesel is the primary fuel for household electricity generation. If we can help farmers produce biodiesel directly from agricultural waste, it will help address key issues such as energy shortages and carbon emissions.”
With further research and tweaking by the researchers, the catalyst may soon be used in the chemical process of producing aviation fuel from agricultural and forestry waste (and even algae).
Original from Science World
Compiled by Xinyu Lei
Reviewer: Simo
Editor: Zhihan Chen
Journal source: Nature Catalysis
Journal number: 2520-1158
Link to original article.
https://phys.org/news/2020-10-biodiesel-dirty-cooking-oil-easier.html
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