The Conversion of Jatropha Oil into Jet-fuel on NiMo/Al-MCM-41 Catalyst: Intrinsic Synergic Effects between Ni and Mo

Although there is much work focused on the conversion of biomass oil into a fuel on bimetallic Ni- and Mo-based catalysts, the intrinsic synergic effects of Ni and Mo have not been revealed clearly. Herein, Mo/Al-MCM-41, Ni/Al-MCM-41, and NiMo/Al-MCM-41 catalysts are synthesized and used for the catalytic conversion of jatropha oil into jet fuel through a one-step process. The molecular weight range (150-180Da) of the jet fuel, obtained with a high yield of 63wt% over 10% NiMo/Al-MCM-41 catalyst, is almost the same as that of the commercial aviation fuel of China. A bimetallic catalyst shows not only an excellent activity but also a high carbon-resistance nature compared with a monometallic catalyst. Characterizations using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, H-2-temperature-programmed reduction, high-angle annular dark-field detector high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HADDF-TEM)-mapping, and in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveal that the formation of elliptical particles containing both Ni and Mo species and of appropriate acid sites with a proper density on the NiMo/Al-MCM-41 catalyst would result in a high yield of the jet fuel. Moreover, the electron transfer from Ni to Mo by a surface synergetic oxygen vacancy of Ni-Mo on the NiMo/Al-MCM-41 catalyst might be responsible for the excellent anti-coke ability.