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Production of a diesel fuel cetane enhancer from canola oil using supported metallic carbide and nitride catalysts

dc.contributor.advisorMonnier, Jacquesen_US
dc.contributor.advisorDalai, Ajay K.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberScott, Roberten_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberPugsley, Todden_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWang, Huien_US
dc.creatorSulimma, Hardi Leeen_US
dc.date.accessioned2008-09-15T10:01:49Zen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-01-04T04:58:24Z
dc.date.available2009-09-17T08:00:00Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-01-04T04:58:24Z
dc.date.created2008en_US
dc.date.issued2008en_US
dc.date.submitted2008en_US
dc.description.abstractSix ã-Al2O3 supported metallic nitride and carbide catalysts were chosen for a scouting test for the production of a diesel fuel cetane enhancer from canola oil. The six catalysts chosen for study were ã-Al2O3 supported molybdenum (Mo) carbide and nitride, tungsten (W) carbide and nitride, and vanadium (V) nitride and carbide. All six catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method and characterized using various techniques. The six catalysts were screened for their affinity for oxygen removal, fatty acid conversion, alkane/olefin selectivity, hydrogen consumption, and gas-by product production from oleic acid. The scouting test was carried out at a reaction temperature of 390°C, a LHSV of 0.46 hr-1, and elevated hydrogen partial pressures of greater than 7000 kPa, in a laboratory microreactor in an upflow configuration. The scouting test revealed that the two molybdenum catalysts performed the best with oxygen removal near 100% and alkane/olefin content of greater than 30%. Next, the supported molybdenum carbide and nitride catalysts were compared against one another over a wider range of operating conditions. A temperature range of 380 – 390°C, a LHSV range of 0.64 – 1.28 hr-1, and a hydrogen partial pressure of 7100 kPa were used. Both catalysts had the same metal loading of 7.4 wt% molybdenum. The two catalysts were compared on the basis of oxygen removal, alkane/olefin selectivity, diesel fuel selectivity, and hydrogen consumption, while using both triolein and canola oil as the feed. It was found that the supported molybdenum nitride was the superior choice for this process, specifically when using the more complex canola oil feed. The supported molybdenum nitride catalyst delivered oxygen removal of greater than 85%, alkane/olefin selectivity of greater than 20%, and diesel fuel selectivity of greater than 40%, for all conditions studied. Finally, a preliminary catalyst and process optimization was carried out on the chosen ã-Al2O3 supported molybdenum nitride catalyst. The catalyst optimization consisted of varying the metal loading of the catalyst from 7.4 wt% to 22.7 wt%. The catalysts were examined over a temperature range of 390 – 410°C, a LHSV range of 0.9 – 1.2 hr-1, and a hydrogen partial pressure of 8300 kPa, with canola oil as the chosen feed. It was found that the increase in molybdenum loading on the catalyst delivered an average increase in the alkane/olefin selectivity of 43.2% and an average increase in the diesel fuel selectivity of 5.3 %. The process optimization studied a temperature range of 390 – 410°C, a LHSV range of 0.6 – 1.2 hr-1, and a hydrogen partial pressure range of 7800 - 8900 kPa, with canola oil as the chosen feed. Within the limits of the design, it was found that the optimum operating conditions were 395°C, 1.05 hr-1, and 8270 kPa. At these conditions the predicted yields of alkane/olefin products and diesel fuel are 47.3 and 50.5 g/100g liquid fed, respectively.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-09152008-100149en_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.subjectmetallic nitride catalystsen_US
dc.subjectcanola oilen_US
dc.subjectmetallic carbide catalystsen_US
dc.subjectcetaneen_US
dc.subjectdiesel fuelen_US
dc.subjectbiofuelsen_US
dc.subjectcatalysisen_US
dc.titleProduction of a diesel fuel cetane enhancer from canola oil using supported metallic carbide and nitride catalystsen_US
dc.type.genreThesisen_US
dc.type.materialtexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentChemical Engineeringen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineChemical Engineeringen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Saskatchewanen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.Sc.)en_US

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