Catalytic cracking of vegetable oil with metal oxides for biofuel production

• Biofuel was synthesized from vegetable oil by catalytic cracking.
• Performance of six different metal catalysts was studied.
• Influence of temperature and reaction time on the process was evaluated.
• Methyl and ethyl esters are the major components of the biofuel synthesized.

This study presents the utilization of metal oxides for the biofuel production from vegetable oil. The physical and chemical properties of the diesel-like products obtained, and the influence of reaction variables on the product distribution were investigated. Six different metal oxides (Co3O4, KOH, MoO3, NiO, V2O5, and ZnO) were employed as catalysts and the results indicated that the metal oxides are suitable for catalyzing the conversion of oil into organic liquid products (OLPs). The maximum conversion (87.6%) was obtained with V2O5 at 320 °C in 40 min whereas a minimum conversion (55.1%) was obtained with MoO3 at 390 °C in 30 min. The physical characteristics of the product obtained (density, specific gravity, higher heat value, flash point and kinematic viscosity), were in line with ASTM D6751 (B100) standards. The hydrocarbons majorly present in the product were found to be methyl and ethyl esters. Furthermore, OLPs obtained were distilled and separated into four components. The amount of light hydrocarbons, gasoline, kerosene and heavy oil like components obtained were 18.73%, 33.62%, 24.91% and 90.93%, respectively.