Selective Deoxygenation of Sludge Palm Oil into Diesel Range Fuel over Mn-Mo Supported on Activated Carbon Catalyst
G. Abdulkareem-Alsultan, N. Asikin-Mijan, Laith K. Obeas, Aminul Islam, Nasar Mansir, Siow Hwa Teo, Siti Zulaika Razali, Maadh Fawzi Nassar, Surahim Mohamad, Yun Hin Taufiq‐Yap
Abstract
Originating from deoxygenation (DO) technology, green diesel was innovated in order to act as a substitute for biodiesel, which contains unstable fatty acid alkyl ester owing to the existence of oxygenated species. Green diesel was manufactured following a process of catalytic DO of sludge palm oil (SPO). An engineered Mn(0.5%)-Mo(0.5%)/AC catalyst was employed in a hydrogen-free atmosphere. The influence of Manganese (Mn) species (0.1–1 wt.%) on DO reactivity and the dissemination of the product were examined. The Mn(0.5%)-Mo(0.5%)/AC formulation gave rise to a superior harvest of approximately 89% liquid hydrocarbons; a higher proportion of diesel fraction selectivity n-(C15+C17) was obtained in the region of 93%. Where acid and basic active sites were present on the Mn(0.5%)-Mo(0.5%)/AC catalyst, decarboxylation and decarbonylation reaction mechanisms of SPO to DO were enhanced. Evidence of the high degree of stability of the Mn(0.5%)-Mo(0.5%)/AC catalyst during five continuous runs was presented, which, in mild reaction conditions, gave rise to a consistent hydrocarbon harvest of >72% and >94% selectivity for n-(C15+C17).