Synthesis of Green Diesel from Waste Cooking Oil Through Hydrodeoxygenation Technology with NiMo/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts

Abstract

Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of waste cooking oil (WCO) and trapped grease over sulfide catalysts was examined to produce high quality transportation fuel from low-grade resources. The hydrodeoxygenation of waste cooking oils was carried out in a high pressure of 30 and 60 bar and high temperature of 300 - 400 °C in a batch reactor autoclave. NiMo/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was prepared and for the first time tested in hydroprocessing of waste cooking oil. The content of NiMo/γ-Al2O3 in each catalyst was about wCo 5 wt.%. A maximum of 77,97 % green diesel yield was achieved at nearly complete conversion of waste cooking oil using NiMo/γ-Al2O3 at temperature of 400°C, pressure 60 bar and 4 hours of reaction time. The oxygen content was decreased from 14,25 wt.% to 13,35 wt.%, at temperature of 400°C, pressure of 30 bar and 1 hour of reaction time. The Hydrodeoxygenation process was much influenced by temperature, pressure, and time.