Engineered biochar composite fabricated from red mud and lipid waste and synthesis of biodiesel using the composite

Abstract

Co-pyrolysis of lipid waste and red mud was investigated to achieve valorization of red mud by fabricating biochar composite. For the further sustainable approach, this study intentionally employed carbon dioxide (CO₂) as reaction medium in the co-pyrolysis process. The use of CO₂ on co-pyrolysis of lipid waste and red mud enabled manipulation of the carbon distributions between pyrogenic products. CO₂ expedited the thermal cracking of lipid waste and further reacted with lipid waste during the thermolysis. These mechanistic roles of CO₂ were catalytically enhanced by the presence of mineral phases (Fe₂O₃) in red mud, thereby resulting in the enhanced formation of CO (40 times more at 550 °C). However, CO₂ suppressed dehydrogenation of lipid waste (∼ 50%), which resulted in the different pathway for reducing iron oxide in red mud. Moreover, as an aspect of valorization of red mud, catalytic capability of biochar composite was evaluated. As a case study, biodiesel (FAMEs) were synthesized, and all experimental findings suggested that biochar composite could be an effective catalyst for biodiesel synthesis. As compare to biodiesel synthesis using silica (92% yield at 360 °C), the equivalent biodiesel yield was achieved with the biochar at much lower temperature (130 °C).

Keywords: Biofuel; Carbon dioxide; Catalyst; Engineered biochar; Pyrolysis; Red mud.