Pyrolysis of Beef Tallow into Liquid Fuel: Temperature and Reaction Time Effects

The increasing demand for energy in Indonesia has led to greater reliance on fossil fuels, causing their reserves to diminish. To address this issue, it is essential to explore alternative energy sources that are renewable and can reduce dependence on conventional liquid fuels. One promising option is liquid fuel derived from beef fat (tallow). This study focuses on identifying the optimal temperature and reaction time for achieving the highest yield of liquid fuel. The process involves using 500 grams of beef fat (tallow) and a 10% zeolite catalyst in a pyrolysis reaction at temperatures of 310°C, 330°C, 350°C, 370°C, and 390°C, with reaction times of 100, 120, and 140 minutes in a catalytic cracking reactor. The quality of the resulting liquid fuel was assessed based on its density, viscosity, flash point, cetane number, and a detailed composition analysis using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The study found that the highest yield of 12.4718% was obtained at a temperature of 350°C and a reaction time of 140 minutes. The resulting liquid fuel had a density of 785.38 kg/m³, a viscosity of 3.00 mm²/s, and a cetane number of 76.7. GC-MS analysis revealed the composition of the fuel: 28.15% gasoline fraction (C5–C12), 9.01% kerosene fraction (C13–C14), and 41.41% diesel fraction (C15–C19). This highlights the potential of beef fat as a viable raw material for producing renewable liquid fuel. Furthermore, the study discusses methods to improve the flash point for safety compliance and evaluates the environmental implications of the pyrolysis process.