Fluidized Catalytic Cracking of Palm Oil Mill Effluent
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The production of biofuels from agricultural waste streams, such as palm oil mill effluent and soapstock, faces challenges due to high biological oxygen demand and the generation of toxic waste streams, which pose environmental concerns and waste of renewable carbon resources, leading to inefficiencies and additional costs in biofuels production.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving the use of a fluidized catalytic cracking unit to crack bio-waste streams, including palm oil mill effluent and soapstock, after esterification with alcohols, to produce cracked products that can be converted into renewable biofuels with carbon numbers from C3-C20, thereby utilizing valuable carbon resources and reducing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If bio-waste streams are disposed of through conventional methods (aerobic/aerobic digestion or physicochemical treatments), then environmental concerns are mitigated, but renewable carbon resources are wasted and additional disposal costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful bio-waste streams (palm oil mill effluent and soapstock) into valuable renewable biofuels through fluidized catalytic cracking. The waste streams containing fatty acids and other organic compounds are transformed into useful cracked products (hydrocarbons) that can be used as fuels, thereby eliminating environmental harm while recovering carbon resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of bio-waste streams through catalytic cracking reactions. The complex organic molecules in the waste streams are broken down into smaller hydrocarbon molecules with different molecular weights and structures, transforming the waste into valuable fuel components with improved energy density and usability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bio-waste streams are disposed of through conventional methods, then environmental concerns are mitigated, but additional disposal costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms waste disposal from a cost center into a profit center by converting bio-waste streams into sellable biofuels. The fluidized catalytic cracking process produces valuable cracked products that can be marketed as renewable fuels, thereby eliminating disposal costs and creating additional revenue streams.
3Device complexity
If bio-waste streams are not converted to biofuels, then production simplicity is maintained, but carbon resources are wasted and production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the fluidized catalytic cracking unit multi-functional by enabling it to process both traditional hydrocarbon feeds and bio-waste streams. This allows the same equipment to produce both conventional and renewable fuels, increasing overall production efficiency without requiring entirely separate processing facilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively converts bio-waste streams into energy-dense biofuels, reducing waste and environmental concerns while increasing biofuels production efficiency and lowering production costs by utilizing the carbon content in waste streams.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the esterified biowaste stream with a catalyst in the fluidized catalytic cracking unit; and cracking at least a portion of the esterified biowaste stream
Implementation Method 2
fluidized catalytic cracking unit
Implementation Method 3
reacting at least a portion of the fatty acid in the biowaste stream with an alcohol to produce an esterified biowaste stream comprising esterified products corresponding to the fatty acid
Data Source
AI summary
A method may include: providing bio waste stream wherein the bio waste stream comprises at least one bio waste selected from the group consisting of palm oil mill effluent, soapstock, and combinations thereof; introducing the bio waste effluent stream into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit; contacting the bio waste with a catalyst in the fluidized catalytic cracking unit; and cracking at least a portion of the bio waste stream to form cracked products that comprise a cracked product stream.