Hydrocracking of palm oil to jet biofuel over different zeolites

Abstract

The aim of this study is to develop zeolite catalysts to produce jet biofuel from palm oil. Different Ni-loaded zeolites were tested as catalysts in the conversion of palm oil into jet biofuels with high alkane and low arene content. Five zeolite catalyst, were tested: Ni/SAPO-34, Ni/MCM-41, Ni/HY, Ni/SAPO-11 and Ni/Hbeta. Characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction, NH3-temperature-programmed desorption. The Ni/SAPO-34 catalyst exhibited the highest alkane selectivity (65%) and lowest arene selectivity (11%). The jet biofuel yield under catalysis increased from 21.1 to 42.0% when the reaction temperature was increased from 370 to 390 °C. The alkane content of the jet biofuel increased from 71 to 80% and the arene content decreased from 29 to 20%, when the weight ratio of Si/Al in the Ni/HY catalyst was reduced from 11 to 5, but the levels were almost unchanged as the nickel content was increased from 5 to 20%.