Kitchen waste based adsorbents for deacidification of crude oil

The high acidity in crude oil, often expressed as Total Acid Number (TAN), is corrosive; posing significant operational and economic challenges in refining crude oil. With the aim of deacidifying crude oil via TAN removal, biogenic, sustainable activated carbons (KAC) were designed via an initial carbonization of kitchen waste to biochar followed by its impregnation with KOH with subsequent activation under inert atmosphere. The carbonaceous and porous nature of the KACs were reflected from FE-SEM-EDX, and BET studies. The biochar: KOH impregnation ratio was the major factor affecting the micropore: mesopore ratio and the surface area; the ultimate result was demonstrated in significantly high TAN removals from crude oil. KAC3 fabricated via 1:0.4 biochar: KOH-impregnation ratio exhibiting highest surface area of 115.5 m2/g and 69% mesoporosity showed highest TAN removal of 83.85% from crude oil having an API of 35. The significant aspect is that corrosion tests on the copper strips, conducted before and after TAN removal, revealed a significant decrease in corrosion after TAN removal, highlighting the potential benefits of TAN removal and corrosion mitigation. The practical and efficient reusability of fabricated adsorbents, utilising solvent washing and combined solvent and thermal regeneration methods, was evaluated over four consecutive cycles. The study has demonstrated a novel pathway for sustainable, cost effective, high crude oil deacidification via design and application of a mesoporous, biogenic activated carbon fabricated from kitchen waste. The suggested pathway has contributed to waste valorization, value additions as well as has demonstrated the potential to curb corrosion issues during crude oil processing.