Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | EP/F063563/1 | |
| Title | Designer Catalysts for High Efficiency Biodiesel Production | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of transport biofuels (incl. Production from wastes)) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Dr J (Jhuma ) Sadhukhan No email address given Centre for Environmental Strategy University of Surrey |
|
| Award Type | Standard | |
| Funding Source | EPSRC | |
| Start Date | 24 April 2009 | |
| End Date | 23 October 2012 | |
| Duration | 42 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £87,008 | |
| Industrial Sectors | No relevance to Underpinning Sectors | |
| Region | South East | |
| Programme | Process Environment and Sustainability | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Dr J (Jhuma ) Sadhukhan , Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey (100.000%) |
| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | Linked to Grants EP/F063423/1 and EP/F067372/1 | |
| Abstract | Tackling the current world energy crisis is recognised as a top priority for both developed and developing nations. Alternative energy sources are therefore urgently sought in response to both diminishing world oil reserves and increasing environmental concerns over global climate change. To be truly viable such alternative energy sources must be sustainable, that is "have the ability to meet21st century energy needs without compromising those of future generations." While a number ofsustainable technologies are currently receiving heavy investment, the most easily implemented and low cost solutions for transportation needs are those based upon biomass derived fuels. Spearheading such renewable fuels is biodiesel - a biodegradable, non toxic fuel synthesised from animal fats orplant oils extracted from cereal or non-food crops.We recently developed a range of first-generation solid acid and base catalysts that respectively remove undesired free fatty acid (FFA) impurities, and transform naturally occurring triglycerides found within plant oils into clean biodiesel. Here we propose to achieve a step-change in both catalyst, and overall process efficiency, through a combinationof new synthetic materials chemistry and reactor technologies, in combination with computer-aided catalyst and process design. Our goal is the delivery of second-generation mesostructured solid acids and bases, optimised for efficient diffusion and reaction of bulky triglycerides and FFAs, and an intensified process allowing tandem esterification and transesterification of plant oil. Together these new green chemical technologies offer vastly streamlined biodiesel production, with associated annual energy savings of 5.5 billion kWh and a reduction in CO2 emissions by 2.4 million tonnes per annum at current production rates | |
| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 28/05/08 | |
