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.