Catalytic Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Water Hyacinth Using Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/NiO Nanocomposite: Optimization of Reaction Conditions by Response Surface Methodology

This research aimed at optimizing the reaction conditions for catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of water hyacinth using iron oxide/nickel oxide nanocomposite as catalysts. The was synthesized by co-precipitation method and used in hyacinth. composition structural morphology catalysts were determined X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning (SEM), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). particle size distribution catalyst nanoparticles Image J software. Three parameters optimized response surface methodology (RSM). These were: temperature, residence time, dosage. A maximum bio-oil yield 59.4 wt% obtained compared to 50.7 absence catalyst. a temperature 320°C, 1.5 g dosage, 60 min time. analyzed gas chromatography-mass (GC-MS) elemental analysis. GC-MS results showed an increase hydrocarbons from 58.3% uncatalyzed 88.66% nanocomposite. Elemental analysis revealed hydrogen carbon content reduction Nitrogen, Oxygen, Sulphur during HTL nanoparticles. high heating value increased 33.5 MJ/Kg 38.6 HTL. recovered solid residue sonication magnetic separation recycled. recycled still efficient four times. application oxide/ nickel nanocomposites increases improves its quality reducing hetero atoms thus increasing energy performance fuel. Iron this study are widely available can be easily magnetically will potentially lead economical, environmentally friendly, sustainable way converting biomass into biofuel.