Aluminum-containing SBA-15 as cracking catalyst for the production of biofuel from waste used palm oil

Aluminum-containing SBA-15 mesoporous materials were prepared using two different methods in order to compare their cracking activity in gasoline production from waste used palm oil. The catalyst prepared via direct synthesis (AlSBA) possessed disorder pore size distribution whereas the catalyst prepared via post-synthesis (ACSBA) had narrow pore size distribution. Both the catalysts gave comparable activity but regenerated ACSBA exhibited higher activity and yield of gasoline fraction as compared to AlSBA. This could be attributed due to the better thermal stability of ACSBA.