Effect of metal oxide/alumina on catalytic deoxygentation of biofuel from physic nut residues pyrolysis

Rapid catalytic thermal conversion of Physic nut (Jatropha curcas) residues for upgrading the released vapors was performed using analytical pyrolyzer-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry at 873 K. Conditioning of the evolved vapor product is required since the main vapor products formed without catalysts typically contained around 60% fatty acids, while the total hydrocarbon yields were only 12%. Catalysts tested were alumina (Al₂O₃) alone and modified by 5 wt% impregnation with various transition metal salts and then calcined to metal oxides. A significant decrease in the proportion of oxygenated compounds (including acids) from 73% without a catalyst to less than 10% with, and an increased conversion to hydrocarbons of more than 70% was obtained with the metal/Al₂O₃ catalysts at a Jatropha:catalyst (J:C) ratio of 1:10. The product selectivity was greatly increased as the J:C ratio was increased from 1:1 to 1:10. The total hydrocarbon selectivity of the metal/Al₂O₃ catalysts was increased in the order of Pd > Ni > Ce > Ru > La > none > Co > Mo, with the highest proportion of total hydrocarbons obtained being 75%. In addition, only a low yield (<2%) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was obtained from the conversion of Jatropha curcas residues. However, these catalysts adversely promoted N-containing compounds, suggesting that a further denitrogenation process is necessary. Nevertheless, the overall performance of these transition metal/Al₂O₃ catalysts is acceptable and they can be considered as good candidates for bio-oil upgrading.     

Spray coating thin polymeric sensor films for Au3+

A novel polymeric sensor of the poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS)-modified rhodamine B derivative (Rho) was synthesized using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC)/N,N′-dimethylpyridin-4-amine (DMAP) as coupling reagents to obtain PSS-Rho4 in 21% yield. The characterization and “Off–On” sensing phenomena were established through UV–Vis, fluorescence, NMR, and FTIR techniques. The PSS-Rho4 showed high selectivity and sensitivity for Au³⁺ over other metal ions. Upon the addition of Au³⁺, significant color change and “Off–On” fluorescence were observed due to a cation Au³⁺ induced spirolactam ring-opening process with detection limit down to micromolar values (1.2 μM). In addition, spray coating thin polymeric sensor films were produced onto the surface of material (PSS-Rho4-ITO and PSS-Rho4-filtered paper) providing a fast, portable, and easy-to-use molecular device for the detection of Au³⁺ in the real system. Reversibility was evaluated by rinsing with EDTA solution under basic condition. We believe that, this approach provides a sensitive and accurate method for the detection of Au³⁺ in environmental and biological applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48273.     

Selective catalytic fast pyrolysis of Jatropha curcas residue with metal oxide impregnated activated carbon for upgrading bio-oil

Jatropha curcas waste was subjected to catalytic pyrolysis at 873 K using an analytical pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in order to investigate the relative effect of various metal oxide/activated carbon (M/AC) catalysts on upgrading bio-oil from fast pyrolysis vapors of Jatropha waste residue. A commercial AC support was impregnated with Ce, Pd, Ru or Ni salts and calcined at 523 K to yield the 5 wt.% M/AC catalysts, which were then evaluated for their catalytic deoxygenation ability and selectivity towards desirable compounds. Without a catalyst, the main vapor products were fatty acids of 60.74% (area of GC/MS chromatogram), while aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds were presented at only 11.32%. Catalytic pyrolysis with the AC and the M/AC catalysts reduced the oxygen-containing (including carboxylic acids) products in the pyrolytic vapors from 73.68% (no catalyst) to 1.60–36.25%, with Ce/AC being the most effective catalyst. Increasing the Jatropha waste residue to catalyst (J/C) ratio to 1:10 increased the aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon yields in the order of Ce/AC > AC > Pd/AC > Ni/AC, with the highest total hydrocarbon proportion obtained being 86.57%. Thus, these catalysts were effective for deoxygenation of the pyrolysis vapors to form hydrocarbons, with Ce/AC, which promotes aromatics, Pd/AC and Ni/AC as promising catalysts. In addition, only a low yield (0.62–7.80%) of toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was obtained in the catalytic fast pyrolysis (highest with AC), which is one advantage of applying these catalysts to the pyrolysis process. The overall performance of these catalysts was acceptable and they can be considered for upgrading bio-oil.