Renewable Diesel Production from Palm Fatty Acids Distillate (PFAD) via Deoxygenation Reactions

The reactions to produce liquid biofuels from a palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) under hydrogen absence were carried out using 10 wt% NiO/zeolite (Ni/Zeo), 10 wt% Co3O4/zeolite (Co/Zeo), and 10 wt% (NiO + Co3O4)/zeolite (NiCo/Zeo) as catalysts. The zeolite was synthesized by a thermal and chemical treatment from natural clay, obtaining a zeolite A and sodalite mixture. Catalytic activity was evaluated as a function of reaction temperature (250, 300, and 350 °C) during 0.5 h and using 5 wt% of catalyst. The reaction products were classified as organic liquid products (OLPs), gaseous products, and solid waste. The OLPs fractions were separated by fractional distillation, and the products were identified and quantified using gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer detector (GC-MS). The results showed yields to OLPs above 50% for all catalysts and temperatures. However, the highest yield to OLPs of 67.9% was reached with a NiCoZeo catalyst at 300 °C. In this reaction, a higher yield to hydrocarbons was obtained (84.8%), indicating a cooperative effect between Ni and Co in the catalyst. Hydrocarbons such as heptadecane (C17H36), pentadecane (C15H26), and other alkanes-alkenes with lower carbon chains were the main products. Therefore, deoxygenation of PFAD using a low-cost Ni-Co catalyst was shown to be an economic and viable way to produce diesel-type biofuels.