NAVIGATION
QUICK INQUIRY
Mao, Xiaoning, et al. Applied Thermal Engineering 258 (2025): 124866.
Methyl ricinoleate (MR) has been investigated as a model feedstock for pyrolysis due to its favorable thermal decomposition characteristics. In this study, single MR droplets were impacted onto a heated stainless steel surface at temperatures ranging from 385 to 520 °C to elucidate the mechanisms governing rapid and uniform heating in pyrolysis. High-speed imaging captured the dynamic behavior of the droplets, while thermal infrared measurements recorded transient surface temperatures, enabling precise quantification of heat transfer.
Four representative impingement states were observed: adhesion rebound, adhesion rebound with breakup, bouncing, and bouncing with breakup. The maximum spreading factor and the dimensionless droplet residence time were found to correlate linearly with the Weber number raised to the 0.336 and 0.389 powers, respectively, highlighting the influence of inertial and surface tension forces on droplet dynamics. Average heat flux calculations indicated that heating efficiency is directly related to surface temperature, droplet saturation temperature, and Reynolds number. Transient temperature mapping of the MR droplet surface provided insight into the rate and uniformity of heating, demonstrating that dispersing MR into spray droplets significantly enhances thermal transfer and accelerates pyrolysis.
This study establishes a comprehensive framework for understanding the interplay between droplet dynamics and heat transfer in MR pyrolysis. The findings offer a theoretical basis for optimizing reactor conditions, improving target product yield, and designing high-efficiency droplet-based pyrolysis systems for methyl ricinoleate and related bio-based feedstocks.
Zhang, X., Li, H. R., Zhao, F. G., Cui, X. Y., Ye, F., & He, L. N. (2021). Green Chemical Engineering, 2(2), 187-196.
Methyl ricinoleate (MR) was employed as the substrate for selective hydrogenation to produce methyl 12-hydroxystearate, a high-value intermediate in biobased chemical synthesis. Diatomite-supported Cu/Ni bimetallic catalysts were prepared through a co-impregnation method, followed by pelletization, crushing, and sieving (20-40 mesh). Catalyst characterization using XRD, TEM, SEM-EDS, XPS, and H2-TPR confirmed the formation of highly dispersed Cu/Ni alloy nanoparticles on the diatomite support.
Hydrogenation reactions were conducted in a 50 mL magnetically stirred autoclave. Approximately 1 g of MR and 1 wt% of the Ni7Cu1/diatomite catalyst were loaded, and the reactor was purged with hydrogen before pressurization to 2 MPa. The mixture was heated to 130 °C for 4 h under continuous stirring. Upon completion, the reactor was cooled, the catalyst separated by filtration, and the product mixture analyzed by GC and GC-MS to determine MR conversion and methyl 12-hydroxystearate yield. Optimization of the Ni/Cu molar ratio and reaction conditions afforded 97% yield of methyl 12-hydroxystearate with near-complete MR conversion.
Catalyst recyclability was evaluated over five consecutive cycles, with SEM, TEM, XRD, and XPS analyses confirming structural stability and retained catalytic activity. The study demonstrates that MR can be efficiently and selectively converted to methyl 12-hydroxystearate using a low-cost, stable, and recyclable Cu/Ni bimetallic catalyst, providing a green and practical approach for biomass valorization and sustainable production of value-added chemicals.
Nie, Yong, et al. Bioresource Technology 186 (2015): 334-337.
Methyl ricinoleate (MR) was utilized as a feedstock for the continuous production of undecylenic acid methyl ester (UAME) using a microwave-assisted pyrolysis system with atomized feeding. The process employed a SiC bed (approximately 750 g) in a 1 L quartz reactor as both the microwave absorbent and heating medium. The SiC particles were preheated to target temperatures between 460-560 °C, monitored via infrared thermometer and regulated with a temperature controller.
MR was preheated to 180 °C and continuously pumped into the reactor at a flow rate of 15 mL/min through an atomization nozzle, ensuring rapid and uniform contact with the heated SiC surface. The pyrolysis reaction occurred upon droplet impact, generating condensable cracking products that were continuously collected via a -10 °C condenser. The feeding duration was maintained at 5 minutes for each run.
The microwave-assisted pyrolysis significantly enhanced both MR conversion and UAME yield compared to conventional pyrolysis. Maximum UAME production (77 wt.%) was achieved at 500 °C, with higher temperatures increasing MR conversion but reducing overall cracking liquid yield. The process demonstrates the importance of controlled temperature and atomized MR feeding in optimizing pyrolysis efficiency.
This study highlights the feasibility of using MR in a microwave-assisted pyrolytic route for high-yield continuous production of UAME, providing an energy-efficient and scalable method for converting biobased feedstocks into valuable unsaturated fatty acid derivatives.
