This study represents the first investigation of bio-succinic acid (bio-SA) production with methane enrichment using carbon-dioxide-fixating bacteria in the co-culture of ragi tapai and macroalgae, Chaetomorpha. Microwave irradiation has also been introduced to enhance the biochemical processes as it could provide rapid and selective heating of substrates. In this research, microwave irradiation was applied on ragi tapai as a pre-treatment process. Factors such as microwave irradiation dose on ragi tapai, Chaetomorpha ratio in the co-culture, and pH value were studied. Optimal conditions were identified using Design-Expert software, resulting in optimal experimental biomethane and bio-SA production of 85.7 % and 0.65 g/L, respectively, at a microwave dose of 1.45 W/g, Chaetomorpha ratio of 0.9 and pH value of 7.8. The study provides valuable insights into microwave control for promoting simultaneous methane enrichment and bio-SA production, potentially reducing costs associated with CO2 capture and storage and biogas upgrading.
Recycling waste cooking vegetable oils by reclaiming and using these oils as biodiesel feedstocks is one of the promising solutions to address global energy demands. However, producing these biodiesels poses a significant challenge because of their poor physicochemical properties due the high free fatty acid content and impurities present in the feedstock, which will reduce the biodiesel yields. Hence, this study implemented the following strategy in order to address this issue: (1) 70 vol% of waste cooking vegetable oil blended with 30 vol% of Calophyllum inophyllum oil named as WC70CI30 used to alter its properties, (2) a three-stage process (degumming, esterification, and transesterification) was conducted which reduces the free fatty acid content and presence of impurities, and (3) the transesterification process parameters (methanol/oil ratio, reaction temperature, reaction time, and catalyst concentration) were optimized using response surface methodology in order to increase the biodiesel conversion yield. The results show that the WC70CI30 biodiesel has favourable physicochemical properties, good cold flow properties, and high oxidation stability (22.4 h), which fulfil the fuel specifications stated in the ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. It found that the WC70CI30 biodiesel has great potential as a diesel substitute without the need for antioxidants and pour point depressants.
This review provides the recent advances in triglyceride catalytic pyrolysis using heterogeneous dolomite catalysts for upgrading biofuel quality. The production of high-quality renewable biofuels through catalytic cracking pyrolysis has gained significant attention due to their high hydrocarbon and volatile matter content. Unlike conventional applications that require high operational costs, long process times, hazardous material pollution, and enormous energy demand, catalytic cracking pyrolysis has overcome these challenges. The use of CaO, MgO, and activated dolomite catalysts has greatly improved the yield and quality of biofuel, reducing the acid value of bio-oil. Modifications of the activated dolomite surface through bifunctional acid-base properties also positively influenced bio-oil production and quality. Dolomite catalysts have been found to be effective in catalyzing the pyrolysis of triglycerides, which are a major component of vegetable oils and animal fats, to produce biofuels. Recent advances in the field include the use of modified dolomite catalysts to improve the activity and selectivity of the catalytic pyrolysis process. Moreover, there is also research enhancement of the synthesis and modification of dolomite catalysts in improving the performance of biofuel yield conversion. Interestingly, this synergy contribution has significantly improved the physicochemical properties of the catalysts such as the structure, surface area, porosity, stability, and bifunctional acid-base properties, which contribute to the catalytic reaction's performance.