Renewable hydrocarbon fuel was produced through deoxygenation of microalgal oil and soybean oil with various catalysts, such as platinum supported on activated carbon (Pt/C), mixed metal oxide between MgO and Al2O3 (MgO-Al2O3). In batch type reactions with soybean oil, the degree of oxygen removal by Pt/C is better than that by MgO-Al2O3. Although Pt/C showed higher activity for the production of hydrocarbon by deoxygenation, Pt/C produced lots of by-products due to the acceleration of isomerization, aromatization, and cracking. On the other hand, MgO-Al2O3 showed higher selectivity for decarboxylation. In batch reaction for microalgal oil, degree of oxygen removal slightly decreased due to unknown impurities induced by pyrolysis process. Both catalysts showed similar catalytic behaviors shown in batch reaction for soybean oil. Considering all these results, we can control the quality and yield of renewable fuel ranging from gasoline to diesel in relation to the selection of catalysts.

Catalytic deoxygenation of soybean oil and microalgal oil: Comparison of catalysts between precious metal and mixed metal oxides

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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