Sustainable synthesis of bio-diesel and jet-fuel range hydrocarbons from poisonous Abrus Precatorius seed oil over MoO3-HPW/Ga-KIT-6

Abstract

Energy problems and environmental deterioration can be combated by renewable biodiesel production from poisonous, waste, and non-edible oil seeds. Molybdenum oxide and phosphotungstic acid were impregnated into gallium-incorporated KIT-6 mesoporous silica employing a hydrothermal technique, to construct MoO3-HPW/Ga-KIT-6 catalyst. Abrus precatorius (Rosary Pea) seeds were utilized to extract non-edible oil, which was then submitted to a catalytic reaction with freshly prepared MoO3-HPW/Ga-KIT-6 for the synthesis of eco-friendly bio-diesel. An optimal biodiesel yield of 100% was reached from Abrus precatorius oil using MoO3(5)-HPW(10)/Ga (20)-KIT-6 catalyst at 6:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, 100 °C and 3 h reaction time. Oleic, linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, arachidic, and behenic acids were esterified under ideal conditions, and the 1H NMR spectroscopy revealed the result was an isolated methyl ester. Additionally, MoO3(5)-HPW(10)/Ga(20)-KIT-6 catalyst have been effectively produced C16–C18 range jet fuels from Abrus precatorius seed oil (APSO) and Abrus oil methyl ester (AOME) through the hydrodeoxygenation route at 400 °C, WHSV 2.7 h−1, 40 bar H2 pressure (62% of C18H38) and 400 °C, WHSV 1.8 h−1, 30 bar H2 pressure (67% of C18H38) respectively. The high dispersion of molybdenum and HPW on the Ga/KIT-6 catalyst and the more acidic centers, which promote the selectivity of the biodiesel and jet-fuel range hydrocarbons (JFRH), are credited with the good catalytic performance; this was demonstrated by HR-TEM and NH3-TPD (341 μmol/g) analyses.