Hydrodeoxygenation of vegetable oils to liquid alkane fuels over Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts: Methyl hexadecanoate as the model compound

Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts with different Ni loadings were prepared by impregnation method, and their catalytic performance was evaluated in the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) upgrading of the model reactant methyl hexadecanoate (MHD) to liquid alkane fuels. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, NH3-TPD, and BET. Ni loadings were obviously influenced by the acidity, and thus significantly affected their catalytic performance. Over 7 wt.% Ni/HZSM-5 catalyst, MHD conversion of more than 90% and total liquid C5–C16 hydrocarbon selectivity of 83% were obtained under the optimum reaction condition, possibly due to the synergistic effect of metal Ni and acid HZSM-5.

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► Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts were prepared with wetness impregnation and characterized.
► The catalytic performance was tested in HDO of methyl hexadecanoate.
► Synergistic effect of catalyst posed the high yield of liquid alkanes.