Hydroconversion of sunflower oil on Pd/SAPO-31 catalyst

This work presents results from the hydroconversion of sunflower oil on the bifunctional Pd/SAPO-31 catalyst as a perspective technological way for single-stage production of hydrocarbons in the diesel fuel range that have improved low-temperature properties. Transformation of sunflower oil was performed at temperatures of 310–360 °C and WHSV = 0.9–1.6 h−1, under a pressure of 2.0 MPa in a laboratory flow reactor. Gaseous and liquid reaction products were analyzed by GC using an internal standard method as well as by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. At temperatures 320–350 °C, liquid reaction product contained only hydrocarbons, the main components were identified as C17 and C18n-alkanes and i-alkanes. Pd/SAPO-31 catalyst demonstrated high initial activity for the hydroconversion of the feed and good isomerizating properties, but its deactivation was followed after several hours of operation. Physico-chemical properties of both fresh and spent catalysts were compared. The influence of reaction conditions on the composition of the reaction products is also discussed.