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This research explores the potential of low-quality rubber waste as a feedstock for liquid biofuel production via pyrolysis, achieving a conversion rate of 65–70 %. The study presents a comprehensive analysis of waste rubber pyrolysis oil (WRPO) using FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR, and GC-MS techniques to identify its chemical composition and fuel properties. FT-IR analysis reveals a complex mixture of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, aromatic rings, and oxygenated compounds, while NMR analysis confirms the diverse chemical structure of WRPO. GC-MS identifies key compounds, including d-Limonene, Dimethyl phthalate, Methyl hexadecanoate, and Oleic acid methyl ester, with 18.49 % saturated hydrocarbons and 81.51 % unsaturated hydrocarbons. The TGA results show that WRPO exhibits evaporation and thermal decomposition characteristics similar to B10 diesel, with evaporation beginning below 40 °C and complete decomposition at 300 °C, highlighting its potential as an efficient and environmentally friendly biofuel. Fuel property testing reveals WRPO has a kinematic viscosity of 1.47 cSt, a density of 785 kg/m3, and favorable low pour and cloud points (

In this study, acid-treated golden apple snail shells (Pomacea canaliculata)-derived calcium oxide (CaO_tr) were used as a high-performance catalyst for the transesterification of palm oil and waste cooking oil (WCO) because the golden apple snail shells were found in plenty in Thailand, and they were also the major pest of rice. The obtained final materials were calcined in air at 800 C for 3 h referred by TGA analysis denoting as CaO_tr catalyst. All of the catalysts were characterized and tested by using several techniques including XRD, EDX, SEM, basic strength by Hammett indicator method, total basic site by TPD-CO2, and BET specific surface area by N2 adsorption. The results indicated that the CaO_tr had a specific surface area of 7.5544 m2/g and it was higher than CaO_un approximately 2 times. The kinetics of the reaction followed pseudo-first-order with the rates constants of reaction (k) equal 1.3510-2 min-1 for the reaction which catalyzed by acid-treated golden apple snail shells-derived CaO catalyst (CaO_tr), while un-treated golden apple snail shells-derived CaO catalyst (CaO_un) gave k value of 1.1810-2 min-1, respectively. Under the optimal of reaction conditions at catalyst loading of 5 wt. %, methanol/oil molar ratio of 12:1, reaction temperature 65 C, and 5% v/v relative to the amount of methanol of THF as a co-solvent; more than 97% yield of biodiesel could be achieved in 150 min by using CaO_tr. The final part, biodiesel product obtained from palm oil and WCO catalyzed by CaO_tr catalyst has high quality and meets the specified standards of biofuels for the diesel engines both of the EN-14214 and ASTM-D6751 standard testing method. Thus, the utilization of the acid treatment method for enhancement of the catalytic activity of CaO catalyst from golden apple snail shells and the applied co-solvent method for increase the performance of biodiesel production was a process with a high potential in the biodiesel production for the community scale and industrial scale.

Eggshell-derived calcium oxide (CaO) materials were used as a heterogeneous base catalyst for biodiesel production from palm oil with methanol at room temperature (30±2 C). The physicochemical properties of the catalyst were characterized by TG-DTA, XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, Hammett indicator method, BET surface area, and CO2-TPD. The comparison of catalytic performance transesterification reaction at the temperature of 65 C against room temperature was investigated. Kinetics of the reaction were studied following pseudo-first order with under the optimal condition with catalyst loading amount of 15 wt.%, methanol to oil molar ratio of 15:1 and 10% v/v of the co-solvent in methanol. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the result showed that the yield of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) was achieved 96.6% in 9 h and the obtained k value was 3.28×10-1h-1which higher than that of without co-solvent system (3.07×10-1h-1). After purification with a cation-exchange resin to remove calcium ion (Ca2+), high-quality biodiesel product with the fuel properties of the biodiesel especially the major physicochemical properties meet both the ASTM and EN standard specifications. Utilization of waste eggshell-derived CaO as catalysts and performing the reaction at room temperature were not only environmentally-friendly technique but also decreasing biodiesel production cost.

This study focused on synthesizing fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) from Krabok (Irvingia malayana) seed oil via transesterification for use as the primary ingredient in herbal massage oil production. Optimal conditions included 5 wt.% of KOH catalyst compared to the oil weight, 15:1 molar ratio of ethanol to Krabok seed oil, 60 min for reaction time and reaction temperature of 78 ± 3 °C, resulting in FAEE yields as high as 99.83 ± 0.17%. Analysis using FT-IR, ¹H and 13C-NMR, and GC techniques revealed FAEE as ester-type compounds, primarily comprising lauric acid (C12:0) and myristic acid (C14:0), constituting 97 wt.% saturated fatty acids and 3 wt.% unsaturated fatty acids. Physicochemical properties indicated clear yellow liquids with viscosity of 1.73 ± 0.03 cSt/s, density of 0.8199 ± 0.0049 g/cm³, cloud point of +4 °C, and pour point of -1 °C. Acid value, free fatty acid content, iodine value, water content and oxidation stability were measured at 0.703 ± 0.001 mg KOH/g of oil, 0.354 ± 0.001 wt.%, 0.59 ± 0.04 g I2/100 g of oil, 1482.3 ± 6.15 ppm, and greater than 12 h, respectively. When the synthesized FAEE was used to produce herbal massage oil products, the results showed that the herbal massage oil products were characterized as a clear yellow liquid with no sediment, low viscosity, and pH in the range of 5 - 6, meeting standard criteria. Thus, FAEE derived from Krabok seed oil is suitable as a primary ingredient for herbal massage oil production, enhancing the value of local resources within the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the catalytic activity and stability of the Fresh-water Clamshells-derived CaO catalyst were investigated by the transesterification reaction of lard oil. The physicochemical properties of lard oil as a raw material for biodiesel production compared with palm oil were also studied. The obtained CaO_FWC was characterized by various analytical techniques to evaluate the physicochemical properties consisting of TGA, SEM, XRD, XRF, BET surface area, FT-IR, Hammett indicator method, and CO2-TPD. The results found that the fresh CaO_FWC showed the specific surface area, percentage of Ca element, total basic site, and basic strength of 8.293 m²g-1, 98.6 wt.%, 8.450 mmol g-1, and 15 < H_< 18.4, respectively which similar to CaO commercial grade. In addition, the fresh CaO_FWC catalyst also presented high catalytic activity that gave %FAME of lard oil more than 96.5 %. However, the CaO_FWC catalyst could only reuse 3 times with the catalytic activity slightly decreased, and %FAME remained higher than 95 %. While the stability of the CaO_FWC catalyst was tested by storage for a long time to 180 days, this experimental data suggested that the CaO_FWC catalyst could preserve for only 30 days, with the catalytic efficiency remaining similar to the fresh CaO_FWC. Furthermore, the preservation and reusability of the catalyst were also studied in terms of the kinetic rate of reaction for use as a database to optimize the reaction conditions. Finally, the fuel properties of biodiesel products derived from lard oil and palm oil as raw materials and catalyzed by CaO_FWC catalyst met the specified standards both of EN-14214 and ASTM-D6751. Therefore, all the results of this work were excellent databases for utilizing and adding value to the Fresh-water Clamshells and lard oil as biomass sources for further development and development as renewable and alternative energy in Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]