Novel Acid Catalysts from Waste‐Tire‐Derived Carbon: Application in Waste–to‐Biofuel Conversion. Issue 18 (22nd June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hood, Zachary D.; Adhikari, Shiba P.; Li, Yunchao; Naskar, Amit K.; Figueroa‐Cosme, Legna; Xia, Younan; Chi, Miaofang; Wright, Marcus W.; Lachgar, Abdou; Paranthaman, M. Parans
• Is Part Of: ChemistrySelect. Volume 2:Issue 18(2017)
• Page Start: 4975
• Page End: 4982
• Publication Date: 2017-06-22
• Subjects: biofuel conversion -- carbon catalysts -- esterification -- free fatty acids -- recycled tires; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.201700869
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-6549

Abstract

Abstract: Many inexpensive biofuel feedstocks, including those containing free fatty acids (FFAs) in high concentrations, are typically disposed of as waste due to our inability to efficiently convert them into usable biofuels. Here we demonstrate that carbon derived from waste tires could be functionalized with sulfonic acid (‐SO3 H) to effectively catalyze the esterification of oleic acid or a mixture of fatty acids to usable biofuels. Waste tires were converted to hard carbon, then functionalized with catalytically active ‐SO3 H groups on the surface through an environmentally benign process that involved the sequential treatment with L‐cysteine, dithiothreitol, and H2 O2 . When benchmarked against the same waste‐tire derived carbon material treated with concentrated sulfuric acid at 150 °C, similar catalytic activity was observed. Both catalysts could also effectively convert oleic acid or a mixture of fatty acids and soybean oil to usable biofuels at 65 °C and 1 atm without leaching of the catalytic sites. Abstract : Sustainable economic development: We report the first demonstration of the fabrication of carbon acid catalyst derived from waste tires. The catalysts were effectively used for waste‐to‐biofuel conversion. This demonstration shows promise for both green and sustainable economic production of biofuels from FFA‐rich feedstocks using carbon derived from waste tires.