Sabrina Karakache, PhD candidate Université de Sherbrooke, presented her advancement on the project at the biggest event for chemical engineering in Canada, CCEC 2022, CCEC 2022: October 23-26.

Abstract:

This work is a part of HORIZON 2020/GOLD Project which provides a potential solution based on phytoremediation and biofuels production, through the conversion of high-yield lignocellulosic crops on contaminated lands into clean low ILUC biofuels. The first part of the Canadian component of this project comprises the pyrolysis of contaminated biomass in a continuous bubbling fluid-bed autothermal pyrolysis (BFB-ATP), to capture and concentrate biomass-contaminating metals in the solid phase products, the char. The second part consists of using pyrolysis gases as a feedstock for biofuel production through a 3-? slurry reactor by Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS).

In this study, the catalyst performance of cobalt-iron supported on hydroxyapatite (Co-Fe/HAp) catalyst was compared with cobalt-iron supported on γ-Alumina (Co-Fe/γ-Al₂O₃). The catalysts were synthesized by the incipient wetness impregnation method and tested for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis on a 3?-slurry reactor. Before the reaction, the catalysts were reduced in-situ at 450°C using a mixture of 70%H₂-30%N₂. The Fischer-Tropsch reaction was conducted at a temperature of 230°C, a pressure of 20 bars, a GHSV of 2400ml.g^-1_cat.h^-1 and H₂/CO ratio of 2.

The catalyst experimental use and characterization showed that Hydroxyapatite could be an efficient support for Fischer-Tropsch reaction. Iron and cobalt can be reduced much easily on HAp support than alumina. The HAp support presents weak and moderate acid sites which lead to a great interaction between the active metal and the support. The XRD analyses show that most of initial Co and Fe content is under the spinel Co₃O₄ form and magnetite (Fe₂O₃) for both fresh catalysts. For Co-Fe/HAp, the hydroxyapatite-related peaks show that the support is dominated by the hexagonal structure.

To find out more about the event click here: https://www.cheminst.ca/conference/canadian-chemical-engineering-conference-2022/