Renewable Diesel Production from Palm Fatty Acids Distillate (PFAD) via Deoxygenation Reactions

The reactions to produce liquid biofuels from a palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) under hydrogen absence were carried out using 10 wt% NiO/zeolite (Ni/Zeo), Co3O4/zeolite (Co/Zeo), and (NiO + Co3O4)/zeolite (NiCo/Zeo) as catalysts. zeolite was synthesized by thermal chemical treatment natural clay, obtaining A sodalite mixture. Catalytic activity evaluated function of reaction temperature (250, 300, 350 °C) during 0.5 h 5 catalyst. products classified organic (OLPs), gaseous products, solid waste. OLPs fractions separated fractional distillation, the identified quantified gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometer detector (GC-MS). results showed yields above 50% for all catalysts temperatures. However, highest yield 67.9% reached with NiCoZeo catalyst at 300 °C. In this reaction, higher hydrocarbons obtained (84.8%), indicating cooperative effect between Ni Co in Hydrocarbons such heptadecane (C17H36), pentadecane (C15H26), other alkanes-alkenes lower carbon chains main products. Therefore, deoxygenation PFAD low-cost Ni-Co shown be an economic viable way diesel-type biofuels.