Hydrotreating of Free Fatty Acid and Bio-Oil Model Compounds: Effect of Catalyst Support

The effect of catalyst support on catalytic hydrotreating of free fatty acid and guaiacol as model compounds of bio-oil obtained from fast pyrolysis of seed oil cake and lignocellulosic biomass was investigated. Two different supported sulfide catalysts were synthesized and characterized, i.e., molybdenum sulfide on TiO2 and Al2O3 supports. The catalytic performance was studied through catalytic hydrotreating of linoleic acid and guaiacol at 573 K. Hydrotreatment of linoleic acid and guaiacol showed that sulfide catalyst supported on TiO2 enhanced catalytic activity and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) pathway while Al2O3 supported catalyst preferred hydrogenation pathway. The increment of free fatty acid in mixed model compounds from 2.5 wt% to 20 wt% hindered catalytic hydrotreating reaction and thus reducing catalytic activity enhancement effect of TiO2 supported catalyst.