SYNTHESIS OF ZEOLITE SOCONY MOBIL FROM BLUE SILICA GEL AND RICE HUSK ASH AS CATALYSTS FOR HYDROTHERMAL LIQUEFACTION

Renewable biofuels produced by the hydrothermal liquefaction of rice husks have received much attention because of rapid increases in fuel consumption and corresponding declines in fossil fuel resources. To increase biofuel yields, template-free syntheses of Zeolite Socony Mobil (ZSM) catalysts based on blue silica gel and rice husk ash as silica sources were studied. After ZSM synthesis in a closed reactor at 170 degrees C, the crystallinity and crystalline diameters of the products were determined by X-ray diffraction, affording values of 56.33%-65.81% and 64.3-68.5 nm, respectively. The hydrothermal liquefaction of rice husks with or without a catalyst was conducted in a closed reactor (1200 mm length x 100 mm diameter) at 275 degrees C for 45 min. The light biofuel was separated from the ethanol solvent and heavy biofuel via vacuum evaporation. The ZSM catalysts increased the biofuel yields by 2.9%-6.0%. The light biofuels exhibited heating values, flash points, and viscosities of approximately 4.2-4.3 kcal.g(-1), 19 degrees C, and 1.48-1.52 cSt, respectively. However, further studies are required to enhance the activity of the ZSMs and increase the quality of the biofuels.