Jet fuel production via palm oil hydrodeoxygenation over bifunctional zeolite mixture supported Ni catalyst: Effect of Si/Al ratio

The influence of the Si/Al ratio of ZSM-5 on 10 wt% Ni/ZSM-5.SAPO-11 catalysts were investigated through the palm oil hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) process, based on the product selectivity of alternative jet fuel. This study utilizes a 1 L batch reactor at 60 bar and 350 °C for palm oil hydrodeoxygenation over 10 wt% Ni/ZSM-5.SAPO-11 catalysts. Si/Al ratio of 50 produces a 10 wt% Ni/ZSM-5.SAPO-11 catalyst with the optimum physicochemical properties for palm oil hydrodeoxygenation. TGA/DTG analysis of the spent catalyst shows that the catalyst has good thermal and catalyst stability with minor carbon deposition. GC/MS analysis also demonstrated a 100 % palm oil conversion to alternative jet fuel. The highest jet fuel yield of 51 % was attained with a Si/Al ratio of 50. The physicochemical properties of alternative jet fuel samples were measured to ensure that the conventional fuel standard limits were appropriately followed. These results indicated that such types of bifunctional Ni-based catalysts have the potential to be used in the conversion of triglycerides to alternative jet fuel.