Research Projects

Biofuels and green chemicals produced by the thermo-chemical conversion (pyrolysis) process have several drawbacks such as high oxygen content, high viscosity, acidic, high water content, and low storage stability. The yield and quality of such oil vary with numerous process conditions and the major parts that contribute are the feed composition. The potassium and phosphorous content in the feed biomass help as a catalyst during the pyrolysis process. Hence, if such biomass having higher potassium and phosphorous content will be blended with various other agricultural wastes at proper proportions then the quality and yield of pyrolytic oil can be enhanced. Further, the use of phosphoric acid plant spent catalyst can be a sustainable and cost-effective way to upgrade pyrolytic oil. The spent catalyst will be treated to enhance the catalytic activity. At a definite feed to catalyst ratio, a co-pyrolysis experiment will be performed. The yield of oil will also be optimized based on a selective blending of various categories of feed biomass. Finally, the process will be optimized based on the catalyst ratio, feed types, and temperature where the yield and quality of pyrolytic oil will be maximum. The upgraded pyrolytic oil fuel properties and composition will be studied in detail to produce green chemicals and fuels. Co-pyrolysis of such bio-wastes with waste plastics will provide advanced techniques to produce high energy content, water-free, and oxygen-free pyrolytic oil that can enhance the stability and use of pyrolytic oil as fuel and as a chemical platform. Such process of production will be planned in lab-scale and pilot-scale as well to industrialize in near future.