Catalytic pyrolysis of oil sludge using the nano alumina powder
Mahdi Sajadi, Nader Mokhtarani
Abstract
The primary purpose of this research is to recover fuel from oil sludge by thermal cracking and catalytic pyrolysis process . The effect of different parameters on the quality and quantity of the recovered liquid fuel was first discussed. A distillation range test was implemented to determine the optimum temperature range for the process. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was employed to specify the distribution of hydrocarbons in the liquid phase . The best results were drawn at a temperature of 400 °C, a heating rate of 30 °C/min, and a detention time of 30 min. The specifications of the produced liquid fuel were consistent with the diesel cut. Then the effects of “oxidative desulfurization of oil sludge” and “adding Nano alumina powder (Nano-catalyst)” were investigated to increase the quality of the recovered liquid fuel. Although the use of Nano-catalysts positively affected the quality of the products, they slightly reduced the liquid oil yield. Ultimately, in optimal conditions, from each cubic meter of oil sludge, 550 L of diesel-like fuel with a heating value of 46,073 kJ/kg, and a density of 845 kg/m 3 , were produced. The sulfur content of the produced liquid fuel was also reduced by more than 94% compared to oil sludge.