Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications
Open Access
ISSN: 2090-4541
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2090-4541
+44 1300 500008
M Arroyo, D P Serrano, J M Escola and L Briones
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Fundam Renewable Energy Appl
Recently, hydroconversion of triglycerides to produce hydrocarbons has been considered as an alternative way to produce
high quality fuels, but it has the considerable drawback of requiring hydrogen. Catalytic cracking of vegetable oils appears
as a possible alternative to obtain biofuels in the absence of hydrogen. In the present work, Pd supported over nanocrystalline
(Pd/n-ZSM-5) and hierarchical ZSM-5 (Pd/h-ZSM-5) were tested in the catalytic cracking of stearic acid, which is a fatty
acid usually present in the makeup of vegetable oils. These supports were chosen because of their strong acidity and high
external surface/mesoporosity which enhanced the accessibility toward the acid sites. Additionally, Pd was incorporated
since this metal favours decarboxylation and hydrogenation / dehydrogenation reactions, which are highly desirable for the
preparation of biofuels. The catalytic experiments were carried out in autoclave reactor and the solution of 10 wt% stearic
acid in dodecane was used as feedstock. The reactions were carried out below 6 bar of nitrogen, at different temperatures
and reactions times. Pd/h-ZSM-5 almost doubled the conversion of stearic acid with regard to Pd/n-ZSM-5 (67 vs. 33 %),
pointing out that the remarkable properties of hierarchical supports in terms of accessibility really pays off. Additionally, this
catalyst outperforms Pd/n-ZSM-5 not only in the attained conversion but also in the selectivity, since higher gasoline share was
attained. Consequently, Pd/h-ZSM-5 was a better catalyst than Pd/n-ZSM-5 for the cracking of stearic acid.
M Arroyo is currently pursuing her PhD in the Rey Juan Carlos University (Spain) in which she is working in the development of heterogeneous acid catalysts for
the conversion of plastic wastes and biomass derived oils into fuel. During this period she will undertake a Pre-doctoral research in the group of Prof. Adam Lee and
Karen Wilson in European Bioenergy Research Institute (Birmingham) in bio oil esterification. At the same time, she has different graduate teaching responsibilities
at Rey Juan Carlos University.