Separation Techniques

Biography

Biography: Aleksandra Sander

Abstract

During the past decade, a growing trend of global energy consumption can be observed. This is particularly true for the transportation sector, which mainly relies on the fossil fuels. As a result, increased emissions of combustion products (SO_x, NO_x, CO₂) that adversely influence the environment and are responsible for the global warming and climate changes can be detected. One way for reduction of harmful emissions is to produce fuel with ultra-low sulfur and nitrogen content. Commercial processes for desulfurization and denitrification require high temperatures and pressures, as well as large amounts of hydrogen, making purification step an expensive and relatively environmentally unfriendly process. To reduce the emission of the greenhouse gasses, fossil fuels should be replaced with renewable, sustainable alternative fuels that must be ecologically and technologically acceptable, economically competitive and easily available. Biodiesel is one of such fuels. Requirements for the development of new technologies for the production of biodiesel from the so-called advanced raw materials – waste cooking oil and waste animal fats as well as from the microalgae come out of the increased world demand for energy. Among alternative methods for lowering sulfur and nitrogen content of FCC gasoline and diesel fuel, as well as for pretreatment of raw materials for biodiesel production and purification of raw biodiesel, liquid-liquid extraction with ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents can be highlighted. The selection of the appropriate solvent involves the experimental determination of liquid-liquid equilibria and derivation of a mathematical model, which would allow for the evaluation of the extraction efficiency. Short review of the application of green solvents in the processes of separation of impurities from fossil fuels and biodiesel will be presented.