Since the high oxygen content of biodiesel makes it a less than ideal renewable fuel, interest has shifted to deoxygenation processes capable of converting fatty acid and triglyceride feeds to drop-in hydrocarbon fuels. The removal of oxygen from fats and oils via decarboxylation/decarbonylation (deCOx) is particularly advantageous, as it does not require the high H2 pressures or problematic sulfide catalysts used in hydrodeoxygenation. We have previously demonstrated that inexpensive, oxide-supported Ni catalysts display promising performance in the deCOx of model and realistic lipid feeds in both semi-batch and continuous mode. The present study aimed to improve the performance of supported Ni catalysts by using Cu or Sn as promoters. In a screening study performed in semi-batch mode using tristearin as a model feed, a Cu-promoted catalyst exhibited increased conversion and selectivity to diesel range hydrocarbons at 260 ̊C when compared to the corresponding Ni-only catalyst, a Sn-promoted catalyst showing the best performance at 350 ̊C. The best formulation identified in semi-batch experiments, namely 20% Ni-5% Cu/Al2O3, was tested in the continuous upgrading of algal lipids at 260 ̊C, 20% Ni/Al2O3 being used as a reference. As shown in Figure 1, 20% Ni-5% Cu/Al2O3 afforded higher yields of diesel-like hydrocarbons and displayed lower selectivity to cracking products at all reaction times sampled, as well as increased resistance to deactivation.

Catalytic deoxygenation of model and algal lipids to fuel-like hydrocarbons over supported nickel alloy catalysts

249th National Meeting (2015)

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