Designer Catalysts for High Efficiency Biodiesel Production

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Title
Designer Catalysts for High Efficiency Biodiesel Production

CoPED ID
74d6d777-a7bd-4feb-b28b-981fd5379791

Status
Closed


Value
No funds listed.

Start Date
Sept. 30, 2009

End Date
Nov. 30, 2012

Description

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Tackling the current world energy crisis is recognised as a top priority for both developed and developing nations. Alternative energy sources are therefore urgently sought in response to both diminishing world oil reserves and increasing environmental concerns over global climate change. To be truly viable such alternative energy sources must be sustainable, that is have the ability to meet 21st century energy needs without compromising those of future generations. While a number of sustainable technologies are currently receiving heavy investment, the most easily implemented and low cost solutions for transportation needs are those based upon biomass derived fuels. Spearheading such renewable fuels is biodiesel - a biodegradable, non toxic fuel synthesised from animal fats or plant oils extracted from cereal or non-food crops. We recently developed a range of first-generation solid acid and base catalysts that respectively remove undesired free fatty acid (FFA) impurities, and transform naturally occurring triglycerides found within plant oils into clean biodiesel. Here we propose to achieve a step-change in both catalyst, and overall process efficiency, through a combination of new synthetic materials chemistry and reactor technologies, in combination with computer-aided catalyst and process design. Our goal is the delivery of second-generation mesostructured solid acids and bases, optimised for efficient diffusion and reaction of bulky triglycerides and FFAs, and an intensified process allowing tandem esterification and transesterification of plant oil. Together these new green chemical technologies offer vastly streamlined biodiesel production, with associated annual energy savings of 5.5 billion kWh and a reduction in CO2 emissions by 2.4 million tonnes per annum at current production rates.

Karen Wilson PI_PER
Adam Lee COI_PER

Subjects by relevance
  1. Emissions
  2. Climate changes
  3. Biofuels
  4. Renewable energy sources
  5. Bioenergy
  6. Sustainable development
  7. Oil plants
  8. Carbon dioxide
  9. Cereal crops
  10. Diesel engines
  11. Energy production (process industry)
  12. Environmental responsibility
  13. Vegetable oils

Extracted key phrases
  1. High Efficiency Biodiesel production
  2. Current world energy crisis
  3. Designer Catalysts
  4. Alternative energy source
  5. Current production rate
  6. 21st century energy need
  7. Associated annual energy saving
  8. Streamlined biodiesel production
  9. World oil reserve
  10. Generation mesostructured solid acid
  11. Generation solid acid
  12. New green chemical technology
  13. Plant oil
  14. Sustainable technology
  15. Non toxic fuel

Related Pages

UKRI project entry

UK Project Locations