Conversion of waste cooking oil into green diesel using Ni/MOR and Cu/MOR catalysts

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the activity of Ni and Cu supported on mordenite catalysts in HDO (hydrodeoxygenation) of waste cooking oil into green diesel. The HDO reaction was conducted in a semi-flow reactor at 350 °C with a hydrogen flow rate of 15 mL/min. The liquid fraction obtained was then analyzed using GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry). The results revealed that waste cooking oil contained oleic acid, palmitic acid, and other long-chain hydrocarbons. Nevertheless, Ni/MOR and Cu/MOR catalysts successfully converted waste cooking oil into green diesel up to 56.60 wt%. Furthermore, Ni/MOR and Cu/MOR catalysts also perform a cracking reaction with products of hydrocarbons C5-C17 and carboxylic acids C6-C16. Overall, the conversion of waste cooking oil was higher by using Ni/MOR catalysts rather than Cu/MOR catalysts.