Advancements of Biochar-Based Catalyst for Improved Production of Biodiesel: A Comprehensive Review

Sooraj Kumar, Suhail Ahmed Soomro, Khanji Harijan (), Mohammad Aslam Uqaili and Laveet Kumar ()
Additional contact information
Sooraj Kumar: Department of Chemical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro 76090, Sindh, Pakistan
Suhail Ahmed Soomro: Department of Chemical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro 76090, Sindh, Pakistan
Khanji Harijan: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro 76090, Sindh, Pakistan
Mohammad Aslam Uqaili: Department of Electrical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro 76090, Sindh, Pakistan
Laveet Kumar: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro 76090, Sindh, Pakistan

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-20

Abstract: Despite being a limited and scarce resource, the necessity and exploitation of fossil fuels are unstoppable in serving human demands. In order to supply energy demand without causing environmental damage, it is crucial to utilize a variety of renewable feedstock resources. Biochar, made up mostly of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, is the product of the thermochemical processes of pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, torrefaction, and hydrothermal liquefaction. Biochar, once activated, has the potential to act as a catalyst in a variety of energy generation processes, including transesterification and fermentation. Transesterification is the process that is used to produce biodiesel from a variety of oils, both edible and non-edible, as well as animal fats in the presence of either a homogeneous or a heterogeneous catalyst. When selecting a catalyst, the amount of free fatty acid (FFA) content in the oil is considered. Homogeneous catalysts are superior to heterogeneous catalysts because they are unaffected by the concentration of free fatty acids in the oil. Homogeneous catalysts are extremely hazardous, as they are poisonous, combustible, and corrosive. In addition, the production of soaps as a byproduct and a large volume of wastewater from the use of homogeneous catalysts necessitates additional pretreatment procedures and costs for adequate disposal. This article examines the biochar-based fuel-generation catalyst in detail. At first, a wide variety of thermochemical methods were provided for manufacturing biochar and its production. Biochar’s chemical nature was analyzed, and the case for using it as a catalyst in the production of biofuels was also scrutinized. An explanation of how the biochar catalyst can improve fuel synthesis is provided for readers. Biodiesel’s transesterification and esterification processes, biomass hydrolysis, and biohydrogen generation with the help of a biochar catalyst are all reviewed in detail.

Keywords: biochar; transesterification; biomass based catalyst; biofuels; biodiesel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/644/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/2/644/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:2:p:644-:d:1026008

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().