الفهرس 
Diesel and BiodieselOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
This study aims to produce biofuel from castor oil via the catalytic cracking process using two catalysts. The first one is the activated carbon that collected from the date palm leaves and the second catalyst is SO42−/CuO-ZnO. In addition to investigates the properties of the obtained biofuel by varying the catalysts ratio and different conditions.
Catalysts characterization
The prepared activated carbon and SO42−/CuO-ZnO were characterized using different spectroscopic and surface analysis to determine their chemical and morphological structures.
Catalytic cracking of Castor oil
Catalytic cracking procedures were performed as follows: 150 mL of castor oil was charged in 500 mL two necked flask and catalysts [activated carbon and SO42−/CuO-ZnO] were added individually at different ratios of 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.1 and 0.2% by weight relative to oil. The catalytic cracking reaction was completed, using activated carbon. The products were: 85% biofuel, 10% water, 3% solids, and the rest were vapors. Whilst, using SO42−/CuO-ZnO; the products were: 91% biofuel, 5% water, 2% solids, and the rest were vapors.
Biofuel specifications
The obtained biofuels from the catalytic cracking reactions were characterized by determining the following properties: viscosity, density, specific gravity ASTM D-4052 (ASTM International United States, 2013), carbon residue ASTM D-445 (ASTM International, 2000), ash content ASTM D-4530 (ASTM Standard, 2013), sulfate content ASTM D-482 (ASTM, 2015), pour point ASTM D-4294-16 (ASTM D97-11, 2011), flash point, fire point ASTM D-97 (ASTM International, 2015), ASTM distillation ASTM D-93 (ASTM Standard D86, 2008) and cetane number ASTM D-4737.
It was found that the properties of the obtained biofuels were ranged between the standard specifications of gasoline and jet fuel.
Distillation characteristics of the obtained biofuel
It was found from the distillation characteristics of the obtained biofuels:-
1. The biofuels obtained at 0.08% activated carbon catalyst ratio have higher boiling temperatures at 133 oC, and the biofuels obtained at 0.01% SO42−/CuO-ZnO catalyst ratio have higher boiling temperatures at 113 oC.
2. The gradual increase in the catalyst ratio up to 0.2% decreases the boiling temperature of the 10% and 20% fractions.
3. The catalyst ratio of 0.2% has the lighter catalytic cracking fractions, which can be applied as bio-jet fuel (after passing the ASTM specifications of Jet kerosine)
Finally, the distillation properties of the obtained biofuels used to calculate the cetane number as a property of the biofuels according to the following equation:
Cetane number = (T50% - 56)/(D15.6 oC x 5)
The obtained values of the cetane number of the obtained biofuels differentiates between their types as biojet or biogasoline.
Catalysts reactivity
It was found that the maximum amounts of products were obtained in the presence of 0.2% by weight of the used catalysts as shown in the below figure.
Obviously, SO42−/CuO-ZnO catalyst is more reactive in the catalytic reaction of castor oil than activated carbon.
Catalysts reusability
Eight rounds reaction were performed including the first trial. The result of each experiment, expressed in term of conversion %, is profiled in below figure. It is clear from comparing the obtained results that SO42-/CuO-ZnO catalyst has good reusability during the catalytic cracking reactions of castor oil.
Final conclusion
The study represented the preparation and characterization of activated carbon and SO42-/CuO-ZnO as efficient heterogenous catalysts for catalytic cracking of castor oil to produce biofuels. The reactivity of the catalysts showed high percent product of the biofuels compared to the commercial and reported heterogenous catalysts. The properties of the obtained biofuels were ranged between the standard specifications of gasoline and jet fuel.