Effect of Cu and Sn promotion on the catalytic deoxygenation of model and algal lipids to fuel-like hydrocarbons over supported Ni catalysts

Abstract

The ability of Cu and Sn to promote the performance of a 20% Ni/Al2O3 catalyst in the deoxygenation of lipids to fuel-like hydrocarbons was investigated using model triglyceride and fatty acid feeds, as well as algal lipids. In the semi-batch deoxygenation of tristearin at 260 °C a pronounced promotional effect was observed, a 20% Ni-5% Cu/Al2O3 catalyst affording both higher conversion (97%) and selectivity to C10-C17 alkanes (99%) in comparison with unpromoted 20% Ni/Al2O3 (27% conversion and 87% selectivity to C10-C17). In the same reaction at 350 °C, a 20% Ni-1% Sn/Al2O3 catalyst afforded the best results, giving yields of C10-C17 and C17 of 97% and 55%, respectively, which contrasts with the corresponding values of 87 and 21% obtained over 20% Ni/Al2O3. Equally encouraging results were obtained in the semi-batch deoxygenation of stearic acid at 300 °C, in which the 20% Ni-5% Cu/Al2O3 catalyst afforded the highest yields of C10-C17 and C17. Experiments were also conducted at 260 °C in a fixed bed reactor using triolein − a model unsaturated triglyceride − as the feed. While both 20% Ni/Al2O3 and 20% Ni-5% Cu/Al2O3 achieved quantitative yields of diesel-like hydrocarbons at all reaction times sampled, the Cu-promoted catalyst exhibited higher selectivity to longer chain hydrocarbons, a phenomenon which was also observed in experiments involving algal lipids as the feed. Characterization of fresh and spent catalysts indicates that Cu enhances the reducibility of Ni and suppresses both cracking reactions and coke-induced deactivation.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.03.025
Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > School of Infrastructure and Sustainable Engineering > Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry
College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI)
Additional Information: © 2016, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Funding: This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. 1437604, by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under award DE-FG36-08GO88043 and by a Seed Grant from the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research. Funding from the British Council under the Global Innovation Initiative for the GB3-Net project is also gratefully acknowledged.
Uncontrolled Keywords: nickel,copper,tin,deoxygenation,lipids
Publication ISSN: 1873-3883
Last Modified: 30 Sep 2024 10:49
Date Deposited: 17 Mar 2016 10:10
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Related URLs: https://www.sci ... 1989?via%3Dihub (Publisher URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2016-08-15
Published Online Date: 2016-03-14
Accepted Date: 2016-03-12
Submitted Date: 2015-12-09
Authors: Loe, Ryan
Santillan-Jimenez, Eduardo
Morgan, Tonya
Sewell, Lilia
Ji, Yaying
Jones, Samantha
Isaacs, Mark A.
Lee, Adam F. (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-2153-1391)
Crocker, Mark

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