Hydrodeoxygenation of palm oil to hydrocarbon fuels over Ni/SAPO-11 catalysts

Small particles of SAPO-11 with large surface area and mesoporosity were synthesized hydrothermally. Ni/SAPO-11 catalysts with different Ni loadings were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation, and their physicochemical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption, NH3 temperature-programmed desorption, Thermogravimetric, and H2 chemisorption. In the Ni impregnation of SAPO-11, the mesopores of SAPO-11 accommodated the Ni particles and give good dispersions, but with the partial blocking of some micropores. In the hydrodeoxygenation of palm oil, the production of liquid alkanes depends on the competition between hydrodeoxygenation and decarbonylation pathways via the corresponding carboxylic acid intermediates. The weak and medium acidity of SAPO-11 and a good match of the Ni and SAPO-11 functions in the Ni/SAPO-11 catalysts decreased the cracking of primary long chain alkanes and gave a high liquid alkane yield of 70 wt% and isomerization selectivity of >80 mol%.

Graphical AbstractA bifunctional Ni/SAPO-11 catalyst with weak and medium acidities gave high yields of liquid hydrocarbons, > 50% isomerization selectivity, and good stability in the one-step HDO of palm oil.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide