ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Nickel-infused zeolite catalytic upgrade of pyrolysis oil from lignocellulose fibers of Syzygium cumini leaf litter for biofuel production

Hadiza Adamu Dawi, Taofik Olatunde Uthman, Serdar Surgun, and Abdullahi Muhammad Sokoto

Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

E-mail: taosun77@gmail.com

Received: 9 February 2025  Accepted: 2 June 2025

Abstract:

Although pyrolysis oils have been identified as a cleaner renewable and sustainable fuel source, their application is limited due to undesirable properties including high viscosity, high oxygenates and low calorific value. In this study, pyrolysis oil obtained from lignocellulosic fibers of Syzygium cumini leaf litter was upgraded in a fixed-bed reactor at 450 °C and 10 °C/min heating rate using a synthesized nickel-infused zeolite catalyst. Characterization of the Nickel/Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 (Ni/ZSM-5) catalyst using EDXRF showed an abundance of NiO (31.05%), SiO (24.5%) and Al₂O₃ (2.5%). Physicochemical and ultimate properties of the oil including viscosity, density, acid value, calorific value, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen contents fell within ASTM standards for pyrolysis oils and conventional hydrocarbon diesel. The upgraded oil was mainly composed of carboxylic acid esters (30.69%), phenols (21.3%), 5-methyl-2-furancarboxyaldehyde (14.12%), hydrocarbons (14%) and 1,5-dimethyl-1-H-imidazole (8.3%). These findings underscore the potential of Ni/ZSM-5 catalyst as a viable tool for converting pyrolysis oil to biofuel, thereby contributing to sustainable energy solutions.

Keywords: Pyrolysis; Catalytic upgrade; Lignocellulose; Bio-oil; Biofuel

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04178-2

Chemical Papers 79 (9) 6117–6127 (2025)