Continuous mode linoleic acid hydrogenation on Pd/sibunit catalyst

Abstract

Catalytic hydrogenation of linoleic acid and oleic acid to stearic acid over palladium on mesoporous carbon sibunit (Pd/sibunit) catalyst was studied in a continuous trickle-bed reactor with the weight hourly space velocity 5.4 h−1 at 120°C and 30 bar using tall oil fatty acid (TOFA) as reactor feed. Stearic acid preparation using TOFA as a raw material is of industrial importance. Pd/sibunit catalysts with spherical particle shape of the size 1.62 mm were synthesized with the palladium loadings 0.5, 1, and 2 wt %. The metal dispersion (%), metal particle size (nm), as well as metallic surface area (m2/g metal) of the three synthesized Pd/Sibunit samples were measured by CO chemisorption. The Pd/C catalysts were tested in linoleic acid hydrogenation, showing promising behavior in terms of activity, selectivity and stability to be used in fixed bed applications. The product stream from the fixed bed reactor was saved and analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and direct current plasma (DCP) spectroscopy. The catalyst activity increased with the Pd loading. The lowest metal loading of 0.5 wt % gave the least prone to initial deactivation and thus the most stable catalyst. This catalyst can be recommended for farther pilot testing.