CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 PRODUCT

2.1.1 Biofuel

Biofuels are combustible fuels and hydrocarbons that are produced from

biomass either direct or indirect in a short amount of time. According to Frewin, W.,

these are classified according to where they come from. First generation biofuels

came from food crops such as grains and corn, and the main processes used are

fermentation and distillation. On the other hand, second-generation biofuels came

from non-food crops like waste biomass, the stalks of wheat, corn, or wood. Lastly,

third generation biofuels are those derived from algae through lipid production.

There are two widely used types of biofuel, the ethanol,and biodiesel. Ethanol is

a liquid that can be manufactured and produced from either fermentation of grain or

advanced technology. Some examples of advanced technology that help in ethanol

production include agricultural waste, wood chips,and waste paper. Another method

for the preparation of ethanol can be through gasification, wherein it uses high

temperatures or low oxygen conditions for the conversion of biomass into synthesis

gas, which then converted to ethanol. An emerging development in cellulosic

ethanol made the production of ethanol possible from waste cellulose, such as food

by-products, scrap wood,and non-food plants.

Combination of alcohol with recycled cooking grease, animal fat or vegetable oil

can produce biodiesel, which is the second type of biofuel. Biodiesel can be highly

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 combustible when mixed with petroleum-based diesel fuel. Glycerin, a byproduct

from the production of biodiesel, is highly combustible. Recent research has

developed another way to generate biodiesel from genetically engineered algae and

bacteria strains. Studies showed that biodiesel produces harmful emissions like

carbon monoxide and particles although used as an alternative for diesel engines.

Aside from the two widely used biofuels, there are other types which include

methanol and reformulated gasoline components. Methanol or wood alcohol is

produced from natural gas and biomass. There are several ways to convert biomass

to methanol, but the most likely approach is gasification (Biofuels by

RenewableEnergy.com, 2018). Gasification is the process of vaporizing the

biomass at high temperatures and removing impurities from the hot gas. Now, the

hot gas passes through a catalyst which helps in converting the gas to methanol.

2.1.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Biofuels

Advantages:

Biofuels today cost almost the same as gasoline does in the market but the overall

cost-benefit of using them is much higher. These produce lesser amounts of

emissions on burning, are adaptable to most of the recent engine designs, and able

to perform very well in most conditions. Because of this, biofuel may become

cheaper in the future based on the increasing demand for this type.

Biofuels are accessible to source since crops and plant sources can be grown

unlike the source of most fuels which is fossil fuel. After a hundred or more years,

fossils begin to decrease and eventually be gone which make them non-renewable.

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 Consequently, the continuous increase of population will lead to a higher generation

of waste and higher consumption of fossils. Also, fossil fuels produce massive

amounts of greenhouse gases when burnt which contribute to global warming. The

production of greenhouse gasescan be prevented by using biofuels because

according to studies, biofuels reduce greenhouse gases up to 65 percent. Air

pollution will also be prevented when everyone shifts to using biofuels.

The production of biofuels is much cleaner compared to burning fossil fuels.

Biofuels produce low carbon content thus lessening the impact on the environment.

Disadvantages of Biofuels

Biofuels are expensive to produce since the processes needed require significant

investment and that biofuels are not yet widely demanded. In the long run, when

biofuels are well-established in the market, future prize rise may become harsh on

the economy as the rising gas prices are doing right now.

2.2 RAW MATERIAL

2.2.1 Biodegradable wastes

According to Safeopedia, biodegradable wastes are products that can easily be

broken down naturally. The process involves decomposition of this organic matter

which return to the soil as fertilizer and nourishment with the help of

microorganisms.Biodegradable wastes are also known as green wastes, recyclable

wastes, food wastes or organic wastes.

Biodegradable wastes share the same impact and effects on the environment as

non-biodegradable wastes when not treated properly. Ever since the

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 humanpopulation began to increase, waste generation also began to grow. These

wastes are results of human activities that became the root of the occurring

environmental problems which include diseases, pollution, and climate change.

Solutions such as landfills are being done today,but this alone cannot address a

largenumber of wastes generated (Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable, 2018).

Also, landfills are possible sources of greenhouse gas emissions, organic

micropollutants, and volatile heavy metals, that pose a significant threat to human

health. Therefore, other measures are needed to be done in order to protect and

preserve the environment and life. Such measures include treatment facilities which

are beneficial since natural gases such as methane, can be recovered in this

process. Aside from that, biological wastes when treated may also be a source of

high-grade fertilizer.

2.3 PRODUCTION PROCESS

2.3.1 Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is the thermal-chemical decomposition process applied to organic

materials at very high temperatures in the absence of oxygen or an atmosphere of

inert gases (Czajczynska,D.et al., 2017). This method is a biomass thermal

conversion technology that is becoming a worldwide interest because of its high

efficiency and positive environmental impacts. Pyrolysis can be applied in

converting municipal solid wastes, agricultural residues, scrap tires, non-recyclable

plastics, and many more, into clean energy. It offers an efficient way of converting

wastes into potential products that are beneficial to humans and the environment.

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 The figure below (Figure 2.1) shows an overview of biomass pyrolysis. Biomass

pyrolysis is a fundamental chemical reaction as it is the first stage process before

the combustion and gasification processes based on the figure above. During the

process, thermal decomposition of biomass occurs at 350 °C–550 °C and

eventually goes up to 700 °C–800 °C. The long chains of carbon, hydrogen and

oxygen compounds in biomass converted to gases, condensable vapors, and solid

charcoal under pyrolysis conditions. Products of biomass pyrolysis depend on the

temperature conditions used in the process. Some of these include biochar, and

gases such as methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

Figure 2. 1 Overview of Biomass Pyrolysis by Salman Zafar

According to Jahirul, M. et al., reactors used for pyrolysis are designed to have

specific feedstock size limitations for effective heat transfer and smooth

operation. The reactors requires the preparation of biomass to the desired size by

cutting and grinding operations. The raw material is also required to be dried up

to a moisture content below 10 percent by weight unless the material is already

dry. The 10 percent moisture content of the raw material is important in order to

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prevent the effects of water on stability, viscosity, pH, corrosiveness and other

liquid properties in the pyrolysis products.

The prepared biomass is fed into the reactor where the pyrolysis process takes

place. A char is formed which acts as a vapor cracking catalyst, so the reactor is

equipped with char removal cyclones that are used to separate char from the

reactor immediately after pyrolysis. Quenching is the next process to be done to

the separated gases and vapors to avoid cracking of the organic molecules.

Quenchingis usually done with pyrolysis liquid condensers, where the vapors are

cooled directly with the bio-oil or a hydrocarbon liquid (Jahirul, M. et al., 2012).