Liquefaction of Waste Rendering Fat Using Iron‐Containing Catalysts

Abstract

AbstractWaste rendering fat (WRF) is a solid residuum from rendering plants. WRF is inedible, even for animals, a mixture of lipids with a high content of (mono‐, di‐, tri‐) glycerol esters and free fatty acids. This study focuses on catalytic liquefaction and deoxygenation of WRF with four different iron‐based catalysts, namely, commercial Fe2O3 and three laboratory‐prepared alkali‐activated zeolite foams different in the iron precursor used for impregnation. Three various reaction times were tested. Laboratory‐prepared catalysts enabled a better yield of organic liquid than commercial ones. All catalysts had a positive efficiency of deoxygenation at all reaction times. The combination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) during the catalyst preparation had a beneficial effect.