Influence of Molten Salts on Soybean Oil Catalytic Pyrolysis with/without a Basic Catalyst

The ZnCl₂–KCl molten salt mixture was used as the catalyst in soybean oil pyrolysis. The thermogravimetric (TG) experiments showed that the reaction pathway of soybean oil pyrolysis could be changed in the presence of molten salts. Moreover, the catalytic pyrolysis experiments were conducted in a laboratory-scale continuous stirred tank reactor (1.5 L). CaO was added to the molten salt mixture as a basic catalyst. The influence of the reaction temperature along with the CaO catalyst on molten salt pyrolysis of soybean oil was studied. The data of non-catalytic pyrolysis was also listed to explain the roles of molten salts and CaO catalyst. The results revealed that the ZnCl₂–KCl molten salt mixture had a unique performance in producing diesel-like fuels. The hydrocarbons were the main part of the bio-oil, which accounted for more than 80 wt %. The acid value was 3.9 mg of KOH/g at 40 g (5 wt % to the 800 g molten salt mixture) of CaO catalyst.