Cheese whey valorisation: Production of valuable gaseous and liquid chemicals from lactose by aqueous phase reforming

Remón, J. ; Ruiz, J. ; Oliva, M. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; García, L. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Arauzo, J. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Cheese effluent management has become an important issue owing to its high biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand values. Given this scenario, this work addresses the valorisation of lactose (the largest organic constituent of this waste) by aqueous phase reforming, analysing the influence of the most important operating variables (temperature, pressure, lactose concentration and mass of catalyst/lactose mass flow rate ratio) as well as optimising the process for the production of either gaseous or liquid value-added chemicals. The carbon converted into gas, liquid and solid products varied as follows: 5–41%, 33–97% and 0–59%, respectively. The gas phase was made up of a mixture of H2 (8–58 vol.%), CO2 (33–85 vol.%), CO (0–15 vol.%) and CH4 (0–14 vol.%). The liquid phase consisted of a mixture of aldehydes: 0–11%, carboxylic acids: 0–22%, monohydric alcohols: 0–23%, polyhydric-alcohols: 0–48%, C3-ketones: 4–100%, C4-ketones: 0–18%, cyclic-ketones: 0–15% and furans: 0–85%. H2 production is favoured at high pressure, elevated temperature, employing a high amount of catalyst and a concentrated lactose solution. Liquid production is preferential using diluted lactose solutions. At high pressure, the production of C3-ketones is preferential using a high temperature and a low amount of catalyst, while a medium temperature and a high amount of catalyst favours the production of furans. The production of alcohols is preferential using medium temperature and pressure and a low amount of catalyst.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2016.07.044

Año: 2016

Publicado en: ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT 124 (2016), [62 pp.]
ISSN: 0196-8904

Factor impacto JCR: 5.589 (2016)

Categ. JCR: ENERGY & FUELS rank: 10 / 92 = 0.109 (2016) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: THERMODYNAMICS rank: 2 / 58 = 0.034 (2016) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: MECHANICS rank: 4 / 133 = 0.03 (2016) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 2.232 - Energy Engineering and Power Technology (Q1) - Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment (Q1) - Nuclear Energy and Engineering (Q1) - Fuel Technology (Q1)

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Ingeniería Química (Dpto. Ing.Quím.Tecnol.Med.Amb.)
Área (Departamento): Área Tecnologi. Medio Ambiente (Dpto. Ing.Quím.Tecnol.Med.Amb.)