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Supercritical water gasification of palmitic acid: Products, pathway and kinetics

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  • Yang, Chuang
  • Wang, Shuzhong
  • Xu, Donghai
  • Chen, Hao
  • Zhang, Jie
  • Li, Guoxing

Abstract

In this study, palmitic acid was selected as a representative model compound for fatty acids to examine the product distribution during the supercritical water gasification (SCWG) process. The degradation of PA was found to follow first-order reaction kinetics, with an activation energy of 155 ± 14 kJ mol−1. At 450 °C, CO2 emerged as the predominant gaseous product, whereas CH4 became the primary gaseous product as the temperature increased to 510 °C. The main liquid intermediates formed during the SCWG of palmitic acid include 1-alkenes (C9-C14) and pentadecane. Two major reaction pathways were identified for the conversion of palmitic acid in supercritical water: thermal cracking, which leads to the formation of volatile fatty acids and 1-alkenes (C9-C14), and decarboxylation, which results in the production of pentadecane and CO2.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Chuang & Wang, Shuzhong & Xu, Donghai & Chen, Hao & Zhang, Jie & Li, Guoxing, 2025. "Supercritical water gasification of palmitic acid: Products, pathway and kinetics," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:241:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125000217
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.122359
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