Comparative study of the thermo-catalytic degradation of waste frying and Pachira aquatica Aubl. oil in the presence of Mo/KIT-6

Abstract

The search for a drop-in fuel obtained from residual biomass or oilseed that does not compete with food, as Pachira aquatica Aubl. oil has been imputing the research. This work focused on the characterization and application of the support (KIT-6) catalyst (Mo/KIT-6) in pyrolysis of the waste frying and P. Aquatica Aubl. oil through a kinetic study by thermogravimetry (TGA/DTG) technique and thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer (TGA-FTIR). The supports and catalysts were characterized by different techniques such as X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis (TGA/DTG), adsorption and desorption of N2 and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS). The support and catalyst presented good structural organization and textured properties, showing that the structuring of KIT-6 was achieved and that in the impregnated form, Mo/KIT-6 presented the Mo dispersion by the surface of the support. Kinetic study pyrolysis of oils was performed using the iso-conversional method proposed by Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose which was applied to determine the activation energy (Ea) of without (thermal pyrolysis) and with the catalyst (thermal/catalytic pyrolysis) in the study. The presence of catalysts on volatilization/pyrolysis of oils showed no significant reduction in activation energy (< 10 kJ mol−1), considering the 50% conversion. In TG-FTIR, the results observed that the presence of Mo/KIT-6 promotes deoxygenation, which is enough to improve the quality of bio-oil obtained.