Lewis acid Ni/Al-MCM-41 catalysts for H-2-free deoxygenation of Reutealis trisperma oil to biofuels

• Main Authors: Nugraha, Reva Edra, Prasetyoko, Didik, Bahruji, Hasliza, Suprapto, Suprapto, Mijan, Nurul Asikin, Oetami, Prapti, Abdul Jalil, Aishah, Vo, Dai-Viet N., Yap, Yun Hin Taufiq
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society of Chemistry 2021
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/96605/1/AishahAbdulJalil2021_LewisAcidNiAlMCM41CatalystsforH2FreeDeoxygenation.pdf; http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/96605/; http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d1ra03145g

The activity of mesoporous Al-MCM-41 for deoxygenation of Reutealis trisperma oil (RTO) was enhanced via modification with NiO nanoparticles. Deoxygenation at atmospheric pressure and under H-2 free conditions required acid catalysts to ensure the removal of the oxygenated fragments in triglycerides to form liquid hydrocarbons. NiO at different weight loadings was impregnated onto Al-MCM-41 and the changes of Lewis/Bronsted acidity and mesoporosity of the catalysts were investigated. The activity of Al-MCM-41 was enhanced when impregnated with NiO due to the increase of Lewis acidity originating from NiO nanoparticles and the mesoporosity of Al-MCM-41. Increasing the NiO loading enhanced the Lewis acidity but not Bronsted acidity, leading to a higher conversion towards liquid hydrocarbon yield. Impregnation with 10% of NiO on Al-MCM-41 increased the conversion of RTO to hydrocarbons via the deoxygenation pathway and reduced the products from cracking reaction, consequently enhancing the green diesel (C11-C18) hydrocarbon products.