Doctoral Dissertations

Jared Bouquet

Abstract

"Crude glycerin solution, a principal byproduct of the conventional biodiesel process, was reacted in supercritical water using a specially designed Haynesʼ Alloy 282 reactor system for the production of hydrogen rich syngas. The effects of temperature, pressure, water-to-carbon molar ratio, reactor residence time, and glycerin-to-methanol weight ratio on the extent of carbon gasification and gas composition were explored. Based on the results, the extent and selectivity of reactions that concurrently occur when methanol and glycerin are in the presence of supercritical water were analyzed. A decomposition reaction pathway for glycerin conversion to syngas was hypothesized, and then utilizing the results of the crude glycerin solution experiments, as well as experiments using pure methanol and pure glycerin with supercritical water, the hypothesized decomposition pathway was evaluated. Also an empirical equation was formulated to predict the gas composition and carbon gasification of crude glycerin using the reaction conditions of temperature and reactor residence time. To gain a better understanding of how the functional groups of different hydrocarbon molecules react when exposed to supercritical water, experiments were also conducted to determine the effect of hydroxyl groups on hydrocarbons in supercritical water. These experiments used isopropanol, propylene glycol, and glycerin as monohydric, dihydric, and trihydric alcohol feeds. The effect that the number and the position of hydroxyl groups in the molecular structures had on carbon gasification and gas composition were determined at multiple temperatures, of hydroxyl groups were shown to have a great impact on the decomposition mechanism of hydrocarbons"--Abstract, page iv.

Advisor(s)

Ludlow, Douglas K.
Lee, Sunggyu

Committee Member(s)

Xing, Yangchuan
Dogan, Fatih
Sheffield, John W.

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s)

United States. Department of Education. Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need
Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2012

Journal article titles appearing in thesis/dissertation

  • Determination of a comprehensive mechanistic reaction pathway and the effects of reaction parameters on the decomposition of a crude glycerin solution in supercritical water
  • Roles of hydroxyl group in the supercritical water reaction of polyhdric alcohols

Pagination

xv, 143 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 138-142).

Rights

© 2012 Jared Scott Bouquet, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Glycerin -- ReactivitySupercritical fluidsSynthetic fuels

Thesis Number

T 9996

Print OCLC #

815660308

Electronic OCLC #

793730425

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