Enhancing the catalytic performance of calcium-based catalyst derived from gypsum waste for renewable light fuel production through a pyrolysis process: A study on the effect of magnesium content.

The thermochemical conversion of abundant renewable resources through pyrolytic catalysis cracking (PCC) is one of the most promising technologies for producing green biofuels. In this study, the pyrolysis of palm oil was investigated over a sustainable CaO-based catalyst derived from waste gypsum. PCC was conducted in a continuous packed-bed reactor under atmospheric pressure without purge gas. The effects of Mg doping and reaction temperature were also examined. A wet ball milling process was used to prepare the well-mixed catalysts and to subsequently form a heterojunction structure between the CaO and MgO particles. CaO was synthesized using the Ca(OH)2 derived from the reaction between gypsum and sodium hydroxide. The pyrolytic oil was separated from the crude oil to remove water and other impurities. The pyrolytic oil was then distilled following ASTM D86, and the three separated products were classified as bio-gasoline, bio-kerosene, and bio-diesel. The highest renewable light fuel volume (bio-gasoline and bio-kerosene) of about 75% (74 %wt.) was obtained at a reaction temperature of 525 °C with 10% MgCO3 content. The percent volume of light fuel increased with increasing reaction temperature. Renewable light fuel production over the Mg-doped CaO-based catalyst was related to both the Mg content and reaction temperature.