Hydrodeoxygenation and hydroisomerization of palmitic acid over bi-functional Co/H-ZSM-22 catalysts

Hydrodeoxygenation and hydroisomerization of palmitic acid were achieved over bi-functional Co/H-ZSM-22 catalysts (about 4 wt% Co loading), and the maximum of isoproducts reached up to 73.4% selectivity at 260 °C for 4 h in presence of 2 MPa H2. Compared to parent H-ZSM-22, the impregnation of Co species for bi-functional catalysts could catalyze completely palmitic acid conversion into 100% selectivity of alkanes in spite of low pressure (1 MPa H2). Furthermore, bi-functional Co/H-ZSM-22 catalysts tailored the deoxygenation route via hydrodeoxygenation leading to more C16 formation. With decreasing of reaction pressure, mole ratio of C16/C15 decreased during complete conversion of palmitic acid, indicating that low reaction pressure favored hydrodecarbonylation to produce more C15. Bi-functional Co/H-ZSM-22 catalysts also exhibited great stability after five runs without any deactivation.