Ali A. Jazie

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to valuable chemicals and fuels requires highly efficient semiconductor materials, and most available photocatalysts are less efficient. Due to their unique electrical properties, the new family of two-dimensional materials known as MXenes has drawn much interest in photocatalytic applications. The vanadium carbide (V2C) is one of the significant MXenes being considered because of its many advantages over other materials. In this work, V2C-loaded TiO2 composites were synthesized and tested for photocatalytic reduction of CO2 with H2O to produce value-added CO and CH4 fuels in a continuous flow photoreactor system. The optimized 10 % V2C-TiO2 was responsible for CO and CH4 formation of 1233.8 and 85.2 µmol g-1 h-1, respectively, which were many-fold higher than using pure TiO2. This enhanced photoactivity of the composite was due to increased conductivity, many active sites, and higher light absorbance, which allowed for the efficient separation of charge carriers and light absorbance. Thus, MXenes, particularly 2D V2C MXene, would be a promising cocatalyst to combine with a semiconductor to maximize photocatalytic activity during CO2 reduction application.

The samples used in the study were taken from the WWTP (wastewater treatment plant) screening location. Lipids extraction from sewage sludge (a by-product of WWTP) grows in large quantities in cities. The wet sludge was adopted to extract the lipids by direct liquid-liquid extraction at room temperature using a mixture of organic solvents cyclohexane, isopropanol, and water for three extraction stages. The content of lipids was 36.3% wt DC and 34.78% wt DC for the first and second samples, respectively. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis determined the content of free fatty acids. FFAs (free fatty acids) content was 58% and 36.6% for the first and second samples, respectively. Oleic acid (C18:1) was the most abundant acid in the two samples, followed by palmitic acid (C16:0) and linoleic acid (C18:2).

Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is a critical step in upgrading biomass-derived feedstock to renewable fuels and valuable chemicals. Thus, preserving the environment through the use of agricultural waste. Water plays the role of solvent, reactant, or byproduct in biomass HDO reactions, which are catalyzed by Co/HB zeolite catalysts. In this investigation, The hydrodeoxygenation of linoleic acid was examined in a patch-packed-bed reactor with a beta zeolite range of (5-15) mg and catalyzed at a temperature range of 230-300 K for 2-3 h. Linoleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid, was used in this work to create hydrocarbons in the diesel range, as well as to clarify the impact of zeolite quantity, temperature, and time on the yielded product, to produce biofuels from Linoleic acid by hydrodeoxygenation in the high-pressure reactor in the presence of the catalyst. The products are then characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Based on the optimization results, it was determined that the hydrodeoxygenation reaction primarily eliminated the oxygen atoms from fatty acids. The yield of the intended products was 96.2% at the Co/HB zeolite amount (10% wt), high reaction temperature (270 ºC), and time (150 min) conditions.

The lipids Extracted from wet sewage sludge by the direct liquid-liquid extraction technique, conducted at room temperature utilizing a combination of organic s The lipids Extracted from wet sewage sludge by the direct liquid-liquid extraction technique, conducted at room temperature utilizing a combination of organic s

Hydrothermal liquefaction is a promising technology for converting wet biomass represented by animal by- products into liquid fuels using high temperature and p Hydrothermal liquefaction is a promising technology for converting wet biomass represented by animal by- products into liquid fuels using high temperature and p

The production of biodiesel from macroalgae using base catalysts is gaining interest in sustainable energy. Biodiesel generation from macroalgae uses several methods, but this research focuses on base catalysts. The paper begins with a detailed overview of bio-diesel production and its usefulness as an eco-friendly fossil fuel alternative. It then examines macroalgae and their role in biodiesel production. Macroalgae’s abundance, rapid growth, and lack of rivalry with food crops are all discussed in the article. Additionally, it solves extraction efficiency and production cost constraints. The review focuses on alkaline catalysts for macroalgae biodiesel production. The benefits of solid-base catalysts over liquid-base catalysts make them suitable biodiesel catalysts. These benefits include increased process efficiency, catalyst recovery, waste reduction, and environmental impact reduction. Overall, this offers an extensive examination of the process of producing biodiesel from macroalgae with base catalysts. This study emphasises the capacity of macroalgae as a renewable resource and offers valuable information on the methods to enhance efficiency and address environmental concerns for the effective use of this technology.

Biomass pyrolysis tar (BPT) with a higher heating value of 24.23 MJ/kg was used as raw feed for the catalytic gas-phase deoxygenation (GDO) process using Hβ zeolite loaded with different amounts of active elements (Ce, La, and Nd). Acetone molecule was chosen as a model compound to test the activity of pure Hβ zeolite, 1 wt% Ce/Hβ zeolite, 5 wt% Ce/Hβ zeolite, 1 wt% La/Hβ zeolite, 5 wt% La/Hβ zeolite, 1 wt% Nd/Hβ zeolite, and 5 wt% Nd/Hβ zeolite at 400 °C and process time of 3 h. BPT characterization showed a wide range of oxygenated compounds with the main components including water: 0.71%, furfural: 5.85%, 4-ethylguaiacol: 2.14%, phenol: 13.63%, methylethyl ketone: 5.34%, cyclohexanone: 3.23%, isopropanol: 4.78%, ethanol: 3.67%, methanol: 3.13%, acetic acid: 41.06%, and acetone: 16.46%. BPT conversion using 1 wt% Ce/Hβ zeolite catalyst showed the highest values of degree of deoxygenation (DOD) (68%) and conversion (16% for phenol, 88% for acetic acid, and 38% for 4-ethlyguaiacol). Yields of water, liquid phase, and gas phase in the GDO reaction using 1%Ce/Hβ zeolite were 18.33%, 47.42%, and 34.25%, respectively. Alkyl-substituted phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons achieved the highest yields of 37.34% and 35.56%, respectively. The main interaction pathways for BPT-GDO are also proposed.

Due to their high lipid content, microalgae are one of the most significant sources of green hydrocarbons, which might help lessen the world’s need for fossil fuels. Many zeolite-based catalysts are quickly deactivated by coke production and have a short lifetime. In this study, a bimetallic Lanthanum-Cerium (La-Ce)-modified HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst was synthesized through an impregnation method and was tested for the conversion of hydrolyzed oil into oxygen-free hydrocarbon fuels of high energy content. Initially, hydrolyzed oil (HO), the byproduct of the transesterification process, was obtained by the reaction of crude oil derived from Chlorella vulgaris microalgae and a methanol. Various catalysts were produced, screened, and evaluated for their ability to convert algal HO into hydrocarbons and other valuable compounds in a batch reactor. The performance of HZSM-5 was systematically tested in view of La-Ce loaded on conversion, yield, and selectivity. NH₃-TPD analysis showed that the total acidity of the La-Ce-modified zeolites was lower than that of the pure HZSM-5 catalyst. TGA testing revealed that including the rare earth elements La and Ce in the HZSM-5 catalyst lowered the catalyst propensity for producing coke deposits. The acid sites necessary for algal HO conversion were improved by putting La and Ce into HZSM-5 zeolite at various loading percentages. The maximum hydrocarbon yield (42.963%), the highest HHV (34.362 MJ/Kg), and the highest DOD% (62.191%) were all achieved by the (7.5%La-2.5%Ce)/HZSM-5 catalyst, which was synthesized in this work. For comparison, the hydrocarbon yield for the parent HZSM-5 was 21.838%, the HHV was (33.230 MJ/Kg), and the DOD% was 44.235%. In conclusion, La and Ce-loading on the parent HZSM-5 may be responsible for the observed alterations in textural properties; nevertheless, there is no clear correlation between the physical features and the hydrocarbon yield (%). The principal effect of La and Ce modifying the parent HZSM-5 zeolite was to modify the acidic sites needed to enhance the conversion (%) of the algal HO during the catalytic deoxygenation process, which in turn raised the hydrocarbon yield (%) and increased the HHV and DOD%.

Despite the extensive research into the catalytic uses of zeolite-based catalysts, these catalysts have a limited useful lifetime because of the deactivating effect of coke production. This study looks at the use of Cerium (Ce) loaded HZSM-5 zeolite catalysts in the hydrocarbon and oxygenated chemical conversion from Chlorella Vulgaris microalgae crude oil. Characterization of structure, morphology, and crystallinity was performed after the catalysts were manufactured using the impregnation technique. Soxhlet extraction was carried out to extract the crude oil of microalgae. Transesterification reaction was used to produce algal hydrolyzed oil (HO), and the resulting HO was put to use in a batch reactor at 300 °C, 1000 rpm, 7 bars of nitrogen pressure, a catalyst to the algal HO ratio of 15% (wt. %), and a retention time of 6 h. To determine which Ce-loaded HZSM-5 catalysts would be most effective in converting algal HO into non-oxygenated molecules (hydrocarbons), we conducted a series of tests. Liquid product characteristics were analyzed for elemental composition, higher heating value (HHV), atomic ratios of O/C and H/C, and degree of deoxygenation (DOD%). Results were categorized into three groups: product yield, chemical composition, and carbon number distribution. When Cerium was added to HZSM-5 zeolite at varying loading percentages, the zeolite’s acid sites became more effective in facilitating the algal HO conversion. The results showed that 10%Ce/HZSM-5 had the greatest conversion of the algal HO, the yield of hydrocarbons, HHV, and DOD% (98.2%, 30%, 34.05 MJ/Kg, and 51.44%, respectively) among all the synthesized catalysts in this research. In conclusion, the physical changes seen in the textural characteristics may be attributed to Cerium-loading on the parent HZSM-5; nevertheless, there is no direct association between the physical features and the hydrocarbons yield (%). The primary impact of Cerium alteration of the parent HZSM-5 zeolite was to change the acidic sites required to boost the conversion (%) of the algal HO in the catalytic deoxygenation process, which in turn increased the hydrocarbons yield (%), which in turn increased the HHV and DOD%.