Production of diesel-like fuel and other value-added chemicals from pyrolysis of animal fat

Pyrolysis of lard was performed in a fixed-bed reactor to produce a diesel-like fuel. Lard was fed into the reactor at 5 g/h using N-2 (3 x 10(-5)-7 x 10(-5) m(3)/min) as carrier gas. The liquid product obtained at a temperature of 600 degrees C, carrier gas flow rate of 5 x 10(-5) m(3)/min, and quartz packing particle size of 0.7-1.4 mm has a cetane index of 46, specific gravity of 0.86, and a higher heating value of 40 MJ/kg. This study shows that there is a potential for producing diesel-like liquid from pyrolysis of lard. It also identifies the pyrolysis of animal fats as a source of high-calorific-value (68-165 MJ/m(3)) gaseous fuel.