FURI | Fall 2025

Novel Production of Hydro-treated Biodiesel (HVO) for Sustainable Fuel Applications and Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel

This research project focuses on the development of biomass-derived corrosion inhibitors and sustainable biofuels, specifically in hydrogen-treated biodiesel (HVO). Free fatty acids, found typically bound within triglycerides, exhibit anti-corrosive properties tested in past research; these fatty acids can be taken from common oils such as sunflower and vegetable and refined to produce biodiesel. In this study, biodiesel is first synthesized through vegetable oil reacted with ethanol, using KOH as a catalyst. This developed biodiesel is then reacted in a hydrothermal Liquefier (HTL) with a developed catalyst of NiMo/Al2O3 and a feed of hydrogen gas to produce HVO.