Bio-oil production from soybean (Glycine max L.); fuel properties of Bio-oil

Soybean oil cake (SOC) has been studied to produce bio-oil in a fixed-bed pyrolysis unit. The effect of pyrolysis parameters on the product yields and compositions were investigated. The highest bio-oil yield of a ca 25.8 wt.% was obtained at 400 °C pyrolysis temperature with a heating rate of 50 °C/min for particles of 0.425–0.600 mm in size. The various characteristics of bio-oil acquired under these conditions were identified. The empirical formula of bio-oil with a calorific value of 33.6 MJ/kg was established as CH1.37O0.15N0.14. The chemical characterization studies showed that the bio-oil obtained from SOC might be a potentially valuable source as renewable fuel and chemical feedstocks.