Novel Catalyst Synthesized by Hydrothermal Method for Fatty Acid Conversion Into Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Here, the novel method for the conversion of fatty acids into hydrocarbon fuel without hydrogen consumption is reported. The deoxygenation of stearic acid as a model compound was performed in the medium of supercritical n-hexane in the presence of Ni-containing catalysts synthesized by a hydrothermal deposition method. We studied the influence of the support as well as the metal loading on the yield of target products of stearic acid conversion into hydrocarbons. Ni was supported on the three different supports: anhydrous microporous silica, anhydrous alumina, and non-functionalized hypercrosslinked polystyrene. The hydrothermal synthesis of the catalysts leads to the changes in the porosity and structure of the supports increasing the number of mesopores. The active phase of the catalysts was found to be deposited on the internal surface of the supports as a thin layer of ?-NiOOH. Ni/HPS catalyst was found to be the most active in the stearic acid deoxygenation process in supercritical n-hexane. The study of the influence of the metal loading on the conversion of the substrate and the target product yield showed that 10 wt. % of Ni is more favorable for the production of high yield of C₁₆-C₁₇ hydrocarbons.