Abstract

A versatile process for coproducing green diesel and value-added lube base oil from natural triglycerides (e.g., vegetable oil, waste cooking oil, and microalgal oil) was developed. The two-step reaction process comprises (i) thermal oligomerization of triglycerides via Diels–Alder and/or radical-mediated addition of the C═C bonds within the fatty acid units and (ii) catalytic deoxygenation of the oligomerized triglycerides via hydro-upgrading. Different triglyceride sources, that is, palm oil, soybean oil, and linseed oil, were investigated as the starting feedstock. Thermal oligomerization of the triglycerides at 300 °C proceeded at the expense of the C═C bonds within the unsaturated fatty acid units. Thus, the degree of triglyceride oligomerization was enhanced when the reactant triglycerides contained more unsaturated fatty acid units (palm oil < soybean oil < soybean + linseed oil < linseed oil). The oligomerized triglycerides were subsequently deoxygenated over a Pt-MoOx/TiO2 catalyst, which converted the oligomerized and monomeric fatty acid units into lube base oil (C30–C54) and green diesel (C15–C18) fractions, respectively. The produced lube base oils were completely saturated with very high viscosity indexes (>120) and a nondetectable sulfur content, which could meet the specifications of high-quality group III lube base oil.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.