One-pot sol-gel synthesis of a CoMo catalyst for sustainable biofuel production by solvent- and hydrogen-free deoxygenation: effect of the citric acid ratio

• Published in: Sustainable energy & fuels Vol. 4; no. 6; pp. 2841 - 2849
• Main Authors: Jeon, Kyung-Won, Cho, Jae-Wan, Park, Ho-Ryong, Na, Hyun-Suk, Shim, Jae-Oh, Jang, Won-Jun, Jeon, Byong-Hun, Roh, Hyun-Seog
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Royal Society of Chemistry 02.06.2020
• Subjects: Acidity; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Biomass; Catalysts; Chemical synthesis; Citric acid; Deoxygenation; Fatty acids; Fuels; Oleic acid; Physicochemical properties; Selectivity; Sol-gel processes; Solvents; Transition metals
• ISSN: 2398-4902; 2398-4902
• DOI: 10.1039/d0se00159g

Deoxygenation by transition-metal-based catalysts is employed to produce a biofuel from fatty acids. In this study, the citric acid/CoMo ratio of an unsupported CoMo catalyst prepared by a sol-gel method was increased from 1 to 7 to investigate its effect on the physicochemical properties and performance of the catalyst. Deoxygenation was carried out at 300 °C under solvent- and hydrogen-free conditions. The CoMo-3 catalyst ( e.g. , citric acid/CoMo = 3) showed the highest oleic acid conversion rate, C 9 -C 17 hydrocarbon selectivity, oxygen removal rate, and biofuel product quality. This catalyst exhibited the best catalytic performance because it had the highest amount of active species (CoMoO 4 ). Catalyst acidity considerably effected on the catalytic performance. Additionally, the citric acid/CoMo ratio affected the formation of single/mixed Co and Mo oxides. Investigation of the optimum citric acid ratio for highly active CoMo catalyst synthesis to produce a sustainable biofuel by deoxygenation under solvent- and hydrogen-free conditions.