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  • Preparation and Characterization of Shell-Based CaO Catalysts for Ultrasonication-Assisted Production of Biodiesel to Reduce Toxicants in Diesel Generator Emissions
Title: Preparation and Characterization of Shell-Based CaO Catalysts for Ultrasonication-Assisted Production of Biodiesel to Reduce Toxicants in Diesel Generator Emissions

The environmentally sustainable production of biodiesel is important for providing both a renewable alternative transportation fuel as well as a fuel for power generation using diesel engines. This research evaluates the use of inexpensive catalysts derived from waste materials for converting triglycerides in seed oils into biodiesel composed of fatty acid methyl esters. The performance of CaO catalysts derived from the shells of oysters, mussels, lobsters, and chicken eggs was investigated. The shell-derived powders were calcined with and without the addition of zinc nitrate at 700–1000 °C for 4 h to yield CaO whereas the CaO-ZnO mixed catalyst were prepared by wet impregnation followed by calcination at 700 °C. The catalysts were characterized by XRF, XRD, TGA, SEM, FTIR and GC-MS. The CaO-ZnO catalysts showed slightly better conversion efficiency compared to CaO catalysts for the transesterification of canola oil. The mixed CaO-ZnO catalysts derived mainly from oyster shells showed the highest catalytic activity with >90% biodiesel yield at a 9:1 methanol-to-oil mole ratio within 10 min of ultrasonication. The reduction of toxicant emission from the generator is 43% and 60% for SO2, 11% and 26% for CO, were observed for the biodiesel blending levels of B20 and B40, respectively.

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Award ID(s):
1852543
PAR ID:
10483336
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Editor(s):
Tae Hyun Kim
Publisher / Repository:
MDPI
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Energies
Volume:
16
Issue:
14
ISSN:
1996-1073
Page Range / eLocation ID:
5408
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
biodiesel production ultrasonication-assisted synthesis transesterification catalysts shell-derived CaO and CaO/ZnO calcination of oyster, mussel, lobster, and egg shells B20 and B40 biodiesel emission profiles CO and SO2 emission generator emissions of toxicants
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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