Optimisation of the bio-heavy oil production process from crude cashew nut shell liquid

Abstract

The article focuses on optimising the process, enhancing the production efficiency of bio-heavy oil from crude cashew nut shell liquid using a system of equipment lines and organic acid catalysts in order to mitigate the emission of polluting gases to the environment. After determining the optimal catalyst-to-cashew oil solution ratio at the laboratory scale, the process was tested at the pilot scale. The product oil samples were characterised with the following parameters: calorific value determined according to ASTM D240-19 exceeding 9,000 cal/kg, impurity content per ASTM D473-22 below 0.01%, and ash content per ASTM D482- 19 below 0.1%. However, the water content determined according to ASTM D6304-20 remained relatively high, at about 0.5%. The preliminary results show the potential to create bio-oil products with low impurity levels and a calorific value that meets current fuel-oil standards while potentially reducing sulfur oxides (SOx ) emissions, which can be mixed at appropriate ratios for use in marine engines or in boilers at thermal power plants or industrial facilities.