Light liquid fuel from catalytic cracking of beef tallow with ZSM-5

Abstract

© International Journal Of Renewable Energy Research, 2018. Beef tallow is a major waste from slaughterhouses and the production rate is rising due to increasing human population. Conversion of waste beef tallow into potential hydrocarbons and biofuels is of great interest. This work focused on catalytic cracking of beef tallow using ZSM-5 to generate a light liquid fuel. A batch reactor was used to investigate the effect of operating conditions for generation of liquid hydrocarbons using a central composite design of experiment to determine the maximum conversion. The experimental variables included reaction temperature between 350 and 450°C, reaction time from 20 to 60 min, and catalyst loading between 1.0 and 10.0% w/w. The liquid products obtained were subsequently distilled at 350°C and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for their chemical composition. The optimum condition for the highest liquid product conversion of 73% w/w was found at 443°C, 60 min and catalyst loading of 6.3% w/w. For the final light liquid fuel, different short chain hydrocarbons between C7-C21were identified. It contained mainly kerosene (36%), but with physical properties similar to diesel.