Can waste eggshell replace commercial zeolites as catalyst for bio-oil production?

• Published in: Journal of analytical and applied pyrolysis Vol. 175; p. 106213
• Main Authors: Seah, C.C., Habib, S.H., Hafriz, R.S.R.M., Shamsuddin, A.H., Salmiaton, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Bio-oil; biofuels; calcium oxide; catalysts; chickens; Co-pyrolysis; dolomite; egg shell; Eggshell catalyst; electron microscopy; Empty fruit bunch; energy-dispersive X-ray analysis; feedstocks; fruits; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; High-density polyethene; organic wastes; particle size; plastics; pyrolysis; viability; zeolites; High-density polyethene; Co-pyrolysis; Eggshell catalyst; Empty fruit bunch; Bio-oil
• ISSN: 0165-2370; 1873-250X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaap.2023.106213

The utilisation of calcium oxide (CaO) from waste chicken eggshells, fishbone, and dolomite as a catalyst in the co-pyrolysis of empty fruit bunch (EFB) and high-density polyethene plastic (HDPE) was investigated and compared with existing commercial zeolite catalysts (HZSM-5, NaY, and FCC). In-situ catalytic co-pyrolysis of EFB-HDPE was performed for each CaO and zeolite-based catalyst. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyse the hydrocarbon content of the bio-oil produced by pyrolysis. The highest hydrocarbon content (61.62%) was obtained from the calcined eggshell (CES) catalyst and was comparable to that of the commercial zeolite catalyst, HZSM-5, with a hydrocarbon content of 53.53%. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) analysis, and Particle Size Analysis (PSA) have proven the viability of CaO-based catalysts in the co-pyrolysis process for bio-oil production via fast pyrolysis. The CES achieved the desired pore diameter (175.15 nm) which was exhibited in the morphology analysis (SEM) and exhibited a uniform arrangement of calcium oxide particles and a porous structure. This finding provides fundamental insight into CaO from organic waste as a suitable alternative to zeolite catalysts in the co-pyrolysis of organic and inorganic feedstocks. [Display omitted] •Co-pyrolysis of biomass/plastic into bio-oil is an important sustainable waste management.•Calcium oxide catalyst was evaluated and compared to zeolites catalyst.•Quality and characteristics of catalyst affects the production and hydrocarbon of bio-oil.•Eggshell can achieve 61.62% hydrocarbon and 31.16% bio-oil yield.