HYDRO-PROCESSING OF HYBRIDIZED USED COOKING OIL INTO HYDROGENATION DERIVED RENEWABLE DIESEL USING LOCAL HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSTS

The search for alternate energy to proffer permanent solutions to energy crises, fossil fuel depletion, and global warming is a pressing task. In this study, hybridized used cooking oil (UCO) was explored for hydro-processing using locally sourced biowaste catalyst. The coal fly ash (CFA) heterogeneous catalyst was reinforced into silica oxide (SiO2) in a ratio of 60 wt% to 40wt%. The Parr reactor was used for hydroprocessing and conversion of UCO into hydrogenation-derived renewable diesel (HDRD). The value of the micropore volume of -0.0001 cm3 increased to 0.0014 cm3, and the external surface area increased from 0.8611 to 41.2571 m2/g, total surface area 0.5928 to 45.2771 m2/g and pore volume of 0.0053 increased to 0.1564 cm3/g. This property showed the potential biowaste catalyst for hydrogenation. The fractionated bio- crude product known as HDRD exhibits excellent fuel properties than conventional biodiesel. The total yield of bio-crude product was 67.15%. The product's high yield and excellent quality confirmed the potentials of CFA reinforced with SiO2 as a suitable catalyst. Hydrogenation of UCO into HDRD using an optimal catalyst is a promising technology that will enhance commercialization addition, and the product is carbon-free, environmentally friendly, and economically viable.