Green diesel rich product (C-15) from the hydro-deoxygenation of refined palm oil over activated NH4 +-Indonesian natural zeolite

Abstract

ABSTRACT Zeolite is a potential material for use as a catalyst in various catalytic reactions. In this research, green diesel-range hydrocarbons were successfully derived from refined palm oil via a hydrotreating process in a batch-stirred autoclave reactor using activated Indonesian natural zeolite (ANZ) as a catalyst. A series of detailed characterizations, including XRD, XRF, SEM, FTIR, N2 sorption isotherm, and NH3-TPD, were utilized to investigate the physicochemical properties of the catalyst. Herein, the ANZ, dominated by the mordenite phase, was prepared through dealumination and NH4 +-exchange, and directly used without calcination that is commonly performed to convert NH4 + into a proton. Moreover, the hydrotreating reaction was carried out at 375°C with a weight ratio of feed to catalyst of 100:1. The catalytic tests showed that C15 alkanes were the most dominant liquid product obtained via the decarbonylation reaction mechanism of refined palm oil. In addition, the highest activity of the ANZ catalyst exhibited up to ~36 wt.% and selectivity up to 70% toward the formation of C15 diesel-range with cetane numbers in the range 71 and 77.