Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Continuous Catalytic Deoxygenation Of Waste Free Fatty Acid-Based Feeds To Fuel-Like Hydrocarbons Over A Supported Ni-Cu Catalyst, Ryan Loe, Yasmeen Lavoignat, Miranda Maier, Mohanad Abdallah, Tonya Morgan, Dali Qian, Robert Pace, Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez, Mark Crocker

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

While commercial hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) processes convert fats, oils, and grease (FOG) to fuel-like hydrocarbons, alternative processes based on decarboxylation/decarbonylation (deCO_x) continue to attract interest. In this contribution, the activity of 20% Ni-5% Cu/Al₂O₃ in the deCO_x of waste free fatty acid (FFA)-based feeds—including brown grease (BG) and an FFA feed obtained by steam stripping a biodiesel feedstock—was investigated, along with the structure-activity relationships responsible for Ni promotion by Cu and the structural evolution of catalysts during use and regeneration. In eight-hour experiments, near quantitative conversion of the aforementioned feeds to diesel-like hydrocarbons was achieved. …