Michalczyk, Maura, Chemical Engineering, Bucknell University, 29 Nicole Drive, Dunmore, PA, 18512, mauramichalczyk@yahoo.com; Onwudinjo, Frank, Chimezie, Chemical Engineering, Bucknell University; Okolie, Jude, A. Chemical Engineering Bucknell University.
Significant amounts of food produced in the U.S. ends up in landfills, which leads to severe environmental challenges including underground water pollution, methane emissions, and land degradation. Furthermore, Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) contributes to the standard challenges of food waste and also adds by causing disposal hazards because of its tendency to clog waterways and pose environmental threats. Therein lies the motivation of this study. The research explores the impact of process conditions during hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of carbohydrate waste and WCO into biochars and biocrude oils for potential upgrading into sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). HTL has the potential to decrease landfill waste and offer a new carbon-sourced renewable energy source. Unlike prior HTL experiments, which use simulation or only food waste, this work explores WCO as a cosolvent paired with carbohydrate feedstocks or used alone. Reaction conditions, including temperature [280-320°C], feedstock composition [rice and water, water and WCO, or WCO, water, and oil] , and reaction time [20-60 minutes] were strategically manipulated to evaluate their effect on product quality and distribution. The resulting solid and liquid products of heavy biocrude oil (HBC), light biocrude oil (LBC), biochars (BC), and the aqueous phase (AP) were characterized using testing techniques including GC-MS, XRD, SEM-EDX, CHN, and TOC to assess their composition and fuel potential. Experimental results lead to key findings including enhancement of product quality due to WCOs and increase in product amounts with increased time and temperature. Overall, this research will provide insight into the benefits using WCO has to the quality and distribution of HTL products capable of upgrading into SAFs, while also tackling issues of waste disposal and clean energy sources.
Liquefaction, Environmental, Sustainable, Aqueous