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Parametric Study of Pt/C-Catalysed Hydrothermal Decarboxylation of Butyric Acid as a Potential Route for Biopropane Production

Author

Listed:
  • Iram Razaq

    (Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK)

  • Keith E. Simons

    (Sustainable Fuels, SHV Energy, 2132 JL Hoofddorp, The Netherlands)

  • Jude A. Onwudili

    (Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK
    Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK)

Abstract

Sustainable fuel-range hydrocarbons can be produced via the catalytic decarboxylation of biomass-derived carboxylic acids without the need for hydrogen addition. In this present study, 5 wt% platinum on carbon (Pt/C) has been found to be an effective catalyst for hydrothermally decarboxylating butyric acid in order to produce mainly propane and carbon dioxide. However, optimisation of the reaction conditions is required to minimise secondary reactions and increase hydrocarbon selectivity towards propane. To do this, reactions using the catalyst with varying parameters such as reaction temperatures, residence times, feedstock loading and bulk catalyst loading were carried out in a batch reactor. The highest yield of propane obtained was 47 wt% (close to the theoretical decarboxylation yield of 50 wt% on butyric acid basis), corresponding to a 96% hydrocarbon selectivity towards propane. The results showed that the optimum parameters to produce the highest yield of propane, from the range investigated, were 0.5 g butyric acid (0.57 M aqueous solution), 1.0 g Pt/C (50 mg Pt content) at 300 °C for 1 h. The reusability of the catalyst was also investigated, which showed little or no loss of catalytic activity after four cycles. This work has shown that Pt/C is a suitable and potentially hydrothermally stable heterogeneous catalyst for making biopropane, a major component of bioLPG, from aqueous butyric acid solutions, which can be sourced from bio-derived feedstocks via acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation.

Suggested Citation

  • Iram Razaq & Keith E. Simons & Jude A. Onwudili, 2021. "Parametric Study of Pt/C-Catalysed Hydrothermal Decarboxylation of Butyric Acid as a Potential Route for Biopropane Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:11:p:3316-:d:569320
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eric Johnson, 2019. "Process Technologies and Projects for BioLPG," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-29, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Onwudili, Jude A. & Nouwe Edou, Danielle J., 2022. "Process modelling and economic evaluation of biopropane production from aqueous butyric acid feedstock," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 80-90.
    2. Carine T. Alves & Jude A. Onwudili, 2022. "Screening of Nickel and Platinum Catalysts for Glycerol Conversion to Gas Products in Hydrothermal Media," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Gayathri Priya Iragavarapu & Syed Shahed Imam & Omprakash Sarkar & Srinivasula Venkata Mohan & Young-Cheol Chang & Motakatla Venkateswar Reddy & Sang-Hyoun Kim & Naresh Kumar Amradi, 2023. "Bioprocessing of Waste for Renewable Chemicals and Fuels to Promote Bioeconomy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-24, May.

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