Affordable Bio Energy For The Future

Cheaper and improved biofuels, which are renewable, will be available soon. This claim is based on an announcement from the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) on 09/05/2014.

The agency has worked on catalysts that can remove oxygen‐containing compounds, which are typically present in bio‐oils. Increased interest in renewable fuels is due to higher fuel prices, diminishing oil reserves, and environmental concerns.

Biofuels are produced from forestry or agricultural residues. They are preferred because they do not affect resources required for food production.

Thermal treatment of these residues produces significant quantities of oxygen‐containing compounds. These compounds exhibit properties such as high corrosivity and high viscosity.

Researchers Jie Chang and Armando Borgna from the A*STAR Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences in Singapore described a method for upgrading oils. They used a series of catalysts to remove unwanted oxygen‐containing functional groups.

They explained that the process uses guaiacol as a representative compound for bio‐oils. They determined that the catalysts for deoxygenating guaiacol consist of molybdenum metal supported by carbon.

The sources of biomass residues are diverse, leading to a wide variation in composition after initial thermal treatment. Guaiacol enables removal of oxygen‐containing functional groups. Guaiacol is readily available.

Catalysts employed for desulphurisation in oil refineries for cleaner fuel production do not perform effectively for deoxygenation. Chang stated, "The desulphurisation catalysts have been developed and their operating mechanisms have been sufficiently investigated." He further stated that guaiacol was used as a model compound to obtain quantitative understanding of deoxygenation.

The researchers identified catalysts that convert guaiacol and 80 per cent of selected compounds into hydrocarbon products within minutes.

Chang and his colleagues examined the structure of the catalysts before, during, and after the reaction. They aimed to determine the reaction pathway.

They focused on the oxygen‐containing functional groups that reacted first. They also assessed whether these groups affected catalyst performance.

In his final remarks, Chang stated that catalyst selection, stability, and activity are all important. He added that considerable work remains before commercial application is achievable.