Study on palm oil hydrogenation for clean fuel over Ni–Mo–W/γ-Al2O3–ZSM-5 catalyst.

Biodiesel, derived from vegetable oil via hydrotreating, is becoming a promising alternative energy. Novel Ni–Mo–W/γ-Al 2 O 3 –ZSM-5 catalysts were developed and firstly applied in palm oil hydrogenation process. The catalysts were prepared by extrusion method and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, NH 3 –TPD, and H 2 –TPR. The influences of acidity on the activity, selectivity, and stability of catalysts were systematically studied. The mechanisms of deoxygenation and isomerization were discussed. The catalyst Ni–Mo–W (5 wt.%–5 wt.%–15 wt.%)/γ-Al 2 O 3 –ZSM-5 (85 wt.% − 15 wt.%) was confirmed as the optimum one. Finally, the key reaction parameters such as reaction temperature, pressure, liquid hourly space velocity and H 2 /oil volume ratio were optimized. The hydrogenation reaction path of palm oil was also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]