Synthesis and characterization of activated carbon as a heterogeneous catalyst derived from palm leaves for production of biofuel

Nabil, Haytham; Sayed, Galal Hosni; Negm, Nabel A.; Ishaq, Ghada; Abd-Elaal, Ali A.

doi:10.21608/jbes.2020.371135

Synthesis and characterization of activated carbon as a heterogeneous catalyst derived from palm leaves for production of biofuel

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Bade Eldin Petroleum Company, Cairo, Egypt.

² Chemistry Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

³ Petrochemicals Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt

⁴ Petrochemicals Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/jbes.2020.371135

Abstract

In this study, activated carbon was prepared from palm leaves as renewable source. The prepared activated carbon was
characterized using different spectroscopic and surface analysis to determine its chemical and morphological structures.
The prepared activated carbon was used as a heterogeneous catalyst at different ratios in catalytic cracking of castor oil to
produce biofuel. The parameters controlling the production of the biofuel were determined and the reaction condition was
optimized. The fuel properties of the produced biofuel were determined including: viscosity, density, flash and fire points,
pour point and smoke points.

Keywords