Innovative Approach to the Catalytic Effects of Oxide Glasses and Glass-Ceramics on the Thermal Decomposition of Fatty Acids

Abstract

In the quest to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, biofuels, particularly biodiesel, are compelling alternatives to fossil fuels due to their lower toxicity, renewability, biodegradability, lubricity, and cleaner combustion. This study explores cost-effective, innovative catalysts: glasses-(ceramics) derived from the Na2O-V2O5-(Al2O3)-P2O5-Nb2O5 system, for the pyrolytic deoxygenation of long-chain fatty acids into alkanes. Thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC) assessed catalytic activity, while TG-IR and STA-QMS provided insights into the catalytic mechanisms. Dielectric properties examined through solid-state impedance spectroscopy (SS-IS) revealed that increased V2O5 content enhances dielectric permittivity, dielectric strength, and dielectric loss, correlating with improved catalytic activity. Optimal properties were achieved with the highest V2O5 content, indicating potential applications in memory and switching devices and battery technology. This study highlights the versatility and multifunctionality of oxide glasses-(ceramics), enhanced through simple compositional adjustments.

Keywords: phosphate glasses and glass-ceramics, catalytic properties, dielectric properties, coupled TG-IR system and STA-QMS system, impedance spectroscopy (IS)