Preparation of acid–base bi-functional hydrotalcite based catalyst for converting Vietnamese coconut oil to green hydrocarbons

Abstract

Acid–base bi-functional hydrotalcite like compounds based on partial incorporation of Al3+ into brucite structure of Mg(OH)2 with various molar ratios were prepared through co-precipitation method. The co-precipitation of the precursors produced precipitations followed by drying at 120 °C for 12 h and calcination in air flow at 500 °C for 6 h to obtain the catalysts (Mg–Al HLCs). Many techniques including XRD, TG–DTA, EDX, NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD, GC–MS and XANES were used to characterize and optimize Mg/Al molar ratio based on the thermal stability of the Mg–Al HLCs and their activities in decarboxylation process of coconut oil. The results showed that the best molar ratio of Mg/Al was 3/1 providing a stable hydrotalcite like structure, and the catalyst possessed both acid and base sites on its surface enhancing its activity and selectivity in the decarboxylation process. The catalysts revealed high performance in the decarboxylation process of coconut oil established at 400 °C for 4 h for green hydrocarbons belonging to kerosene fractions.