Materials applied to transformation of biomass in green diesel: from laboratory to pilot

• Grant number: 23/01953-3
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Sandra Helena Pulcinelli
• Grantee: Sandra Helena Pulcinelli
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Pesquisadores principais: Celso Valentim Santilli ; Leandro Pierroni Martins ; Pedro Teixeira Lacava ; Rodrigo Fernando Costa Marques
• Associated researchers: Aline Ribeiro Passos ; Amélie Claire Rochet ; Leila Ribeiro dos Santos ; Levi Pompermayer Machado ; Marcos Roberto Monteiro ; Peter Hammer ; Regina Celia Galvao Frem ; Silvia Helena Santagneli

Abstract

This proposal aims to find technological solutions as well as to promote the development of our country's sustainable fuel industry, and consequently, to contribute to the reduction of atmospheric pollutants. The gas emissions from fossil fuels burn make evident the need of more efficient and renewable energy resources. In this context, one of the biggest challenges from this century is to find strategical energy sources for the development of clean fuels able to favor decarbonization and to reduce environmental impacts. The main goal of this project is to produce drop in biofuels (green diesel) from vegetable and residual oils, aiming to create technically/economically viable substitutes for internal combustion engines and compression ignition, using different catalysts and technological routes. So, the proposal is centered into 4 main lines: valorization/use of Brazilian biomass and its residuals from mapping of properties and identifying the ones suitable for producing hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO); development of catalysts for deoxygenation of brut oils and residuals, and parameterization of HVO production in a benchtop reactor; optimization of the hydrotreatment process on pilot scale through the production of HVO on a pilot reactor parameterized from data obtained on a benchtop reactor; HVO evaluation testes using a research engine taking account for pollutant gas emissions and performance as compared to commercial fuel. This set of activities must contribute to the development of the use of renewable fuels and the training of qualified human resources. (AU)