Catalytic conversion of stearic acid to fuel oil in a hydrogen donor

Stearic acid (SA) was dispersed in tetralin (a hydrogen donor) and hydrotreated in a batch reactor over a fabricated sulfided NiMo/γ-Al2O3-β-zeolite catalyst to obtain a diesel-range fuel product. NiMo/γ-Al2O3-β-zeolite catalysts were prepared by loading the active components NiO and MoO3 onto a mechanically mixed γ-Al2O3 and β-zeolite support, followed by a sulfurization procedure. The effects of the catalytic properties and reaction conditions on the hydrodeoxygenation of SA were investigated. The results showed that increasing the β-zeolite in the support leads to a decrease in SA conversion and an increase in the isomerization of products; increasing the NiO and MoO3 mass fraction tends to promote the formation of alkene hydrocarbons and increase the level of isomerization; increasing the Ni molar fraction helps to promote both conversion and isomerization; and temperatures above 330 °C promoted the activities of the catalysts and tetralin. A nearly 90% SA conversion was achieved at 350 °C under H2 at a pressure of 0.8 MPa for 2 h in tetralin. The total content of C16C18 alkanes and alkenes in the products was about 98%, and the isomerized compounds accounted for 10-40 wt%.