Catalytic upgrading of oleic acid into biofuel using Mo modified zeolite supported Ni oxalate catalyst functionalized with fluoride ion

In this study, fluoride ion functionalized nickel oxalate supported on molybdenum modified zeolite (NiMoFOx/Zeol) catalyst was synthesized, characterized and tested on the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of oleic acid (OA) into paraffinic fuel. The NiMoFOx/Zeol characterization results confirmed the presence of both Ni and Mo as well as the formation of NiMoO4 which is a highly HDO reactive specie at 2θ value of 43.6° according to the XRD result. NiMoFOx/Zeol also showed loss in crystallinity and reduction in the average particle size leading to increase in the pore volume and specific surface area due to the combined effects of fluoride ion presence, oxalic acid functionalization and calcination. The effect of temperature, pressure and NiMoFOx/Zeol loading studied showed that initial increase in their values increased the yield of the target fractions until some points where reduction was observed. The best observed experimental conditions to hydrodeoxygenate 40 g (∼45 mL) of OA into 75% n-C18 and 23% i-C18 were 360 °C, 30 mg NiMoFOx/Zeol loading and 20 bar using 100 mL H2/min. The presence of i-C18 was due to the functionalization of the catalyst with fluoride ion. The catalyst reusability result displayed excellent qualities with marginal loss of only 2% in activity after third reuse due to the improved synthesis protocol that employed organometallic precursor. The results are strongly encouraging for further studies toward industrialization of HDO process.