Syahrial Okzani, Muhammad Said, David Bahrin

Optimizing Bio-Oil Yield from Pyrolysis of Spent Bleaching Earth for Liquid Fuel Production

Introduction

Optimizing bio-oil yield from pyrolysis of spent bleaching earth for liquid fuel production. Optimize bio-oil yield from Spent Bleaching Earth pyrolysis for liquid fuel. A sustainable waste-to-energy solution for hazardous industrial waste management and cleaner energy.

Abstract

Spent Bleaching Earth is an industrial waste generated primarily from vegetable oil processing and contains 20-40% oil by weight, which poses a fire hazard due to the risk of spontaneous combustion. Commonly, Spent Bleaching Earth is processed using extraction methods with solvents like n-hexane, methanol, or steam. However, transforming SBE into liquid fuel via pyrolysis remains underexplored. This research aims to convert into liquid fuel through pyrolysis. The process was conducted at 600 °C for 90 min, resulting in pyrolysis oil with a density of 992.8 kg/m³, a viscosity of 31.21 cSt, a calorific value of 40.63 MJ/kg, and a flash point of 36 °C. Additionally, the oil contained 21.18% phenol compounds. The remaining material from the process, including char, constituted 54% of the original spent bleaching earth mass. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using pyrolysis to convert into a valuable liquid fuel, offering a sustainable approach to manage this hazardous industrial waste while producing energy-rich byproducts. This study underscores the potential of pyrolysis as a waste-to-energy solution and a safer alternative to traditional disposal methods for Spent Bleaching Earth.

Review

This paper, "Optimizing Bio-Oil Yield from Pyrolysis of Spent Bleaching Earth for Liquid Fuel Production," addresses a significant industrial waste management challenge by proposing a sustainable and energy-efficient solution. Spent Bleaching Earth (SBE), an oily waste from vegetable oil processing, poses environmental and safety risks, particularly due to its high oil content and potential for spontaneous combustion. While traditional extraction methods exist, the abstract highlights that direct conversion of SBE into liquid fuel via pyrolysis remains largely underexplored. This study therefore fills an important knowledge gap, offering a promising avenue for valorizing a hazardous waste into a valuable energy resource. The research effectively demonstrates the feasibility of transforming SBE into liquid fuel through a pyrolysis process conducted at specific conditions of 600 °C for 90 minutes. The reported characteristics of the resulting pyrolysis oil are particularly noteworthy: a density of 992.8 kg/m³, a viscosity of 31.21 cSt, and an impressive calorific value of 40.63 MJ/kg, which is comparable to conventional fuels. The low flash point of 36 °C, while highlighting a safety consideration, also indicates its potential as a combustible fuel. Furthermore, the oil's 21.18% phenol content suggests opportunities for downstream chemical recovery, alongside its energy value. The substantial char yield (54% of original SBE mass) also indicates a potential for further valorization of the solid byproduct. These findings strongly support the claim that pyrolysis offers a viable waste-to-energy solution for SBE. While this study compellingly establishes the potential of SBE pyrolysis for liquid fuel production, it also opens several avenues for future research. To fully optimize the process, further investigation into the effects of varying pyrolysis parameters (temperature, residence time, heating rate, catalyst presence) on bio-oil yield and quality would be highly beneficial. A more comprehensive chemical characterization of the bio-oil, beyond phenol content, would also be valuable to understand its full potential and challenges for direct application or upgrading. Additionally, the characterization and potential uses of the generated char should be explored in detail to ensure a truly holistic waste valorization strategy. Despite these areas for further development, this work represents a significant step forward in SBE waste management, offering a safer and more environmentally sound alternative to current disposal practices and contributing meaningfully to sustainable energy production.

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