Catalytic conversion of jatropha oil to Bio-jet fuel over Pt, Ru, and Ir supported catalysts

Abstract

Bio-jet fuel (jet fuel derived from biomass) is an interesting alternative for future aviation fuels. In this work, the production of bio-jet fuel from jatropha oil was studied using bifunctional catalysts including, Pt/Al2O3, Pt/F-Al2O3 Pt/H-Y, lr/H-Y, Ru/H-Y, and H-Y. The catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and characterized by TPR. TPD, TPO, TGA, and BET. The prepared catalysts were tested in a continuous flow packed-bed reactor at 325-400℃, 500-600 psig, liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) of 0.5-1.0 h-1, and H2/feed molar ratio of 38. The major products obtained over Pt/Al2O3. Pt/F-Al2O3. lr/H-Y. Ru/H-Y, and H-Y were n-heptadecane (n-Cl7) and n-pentadecane (n-C15) which are in the diesel specification range. The promotion of fluorine resulted in higher selectivity to isomerized products but it did not improve the cracking activity, required to produce bio-jet fuel. Pt/H-Y catalyst gave a major fraction of light hydrocarbons Which could result from its stronger acidity. Moreover, fatty acids and fatty alcohols were observed as intermediates of the reaction. Based on this result, bio-jet fuel has the possibility to be produced over Pt/H-Y catalyst. The optimum reaction condition over the Pt/H-Y catalyst was found at 375 ℃, 550 psig, and 0.5 h-1.