Mesoporous NiO/Al-SBA-15 catalysts for solvent-free deoxygenation of palm fatty acid distillate

• Published in: Microporous and mesoporous materials Vol. 276; pp. 13 - 22
• Main Authors: Baharudin, Khairul Basyar, Taufiq-Yap, Yun Hin, Hunns, James, Isaacs, Mark, Wilson, Karen, Derawi, Darfizzi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.03.2019
• Subjects: Advanced biofuels; Aluminosilicates; Cracking; Deoxygenation; Green diesel; Mesoporous; Ni/Al-SBA-15; PFAD; True liquid crystal templating; Advanced biofuels; Deoxygenation; Aluminosilicates; Cracking; True liquid crystal templating; Mesoporous; PFAD; Green diesel; Ni/Al-SBA-15
• ISSN: 1387-1811; 1873-3093
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2018.09.014

A series of 5 wt% NiO/Al-SBA-15 catalysts were prepared by wet impregnation of ordered, mesoporous Al-SBA-15 supports (Si/Al molar ratios spanning 5–75) synthesised by a true liquid crystal templating (TLCT) method. The catalytic activity of the resulting catalysts was studied in the solvent-less, hydrogen-free deoxygenation (DO) of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), using a semi-batch reactor at 350 °C. 27Al and 29Si MAS-NMR was used to quantify the speciation of framework and extra-framework Al as a function of Si:Al ratio, before and after NiO functionalisation; TEM and XRD confirmed the formation of 9–10 nm NiO nanoparticles in all cases. NiO/Al-SBA-15 catalysts exhibited excellent catalytic activity for PFAD deoxygenation, with hydrocarbon yields reaching 86% and a selectivity to the diesel fraction (C11C17) of 91%. [Display omitted] •SBA-15 was successfully altered by incorporating Al3+ into the SBA-15 framework via the true liquid crystal template method.•NiO/Al-SBA-15 with different Si/Al mole ratios (5, 25, 50, 75) was effectively prepared using the wet impregnation method.•Synergistic effect of NiO and Al-SBA-15 improved the selectivity of green diesel from the deoxygenation reaction of PFAD.