Effect of Nickel Concentration in Natural Zeolite as Catalyst in Hydrocracking Process of Used Cooking Oil

• Published in: Asian journal of chemistry 2020-11, Vol.32 (11), p.2773-2777
• Main Authors: usi, E.P. S, Wijaya, K., Wangsa, Pratika, R.A., Hariani, P.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0970-7077; 0975-427X
• DOI: 10.14233/ajchem.2020.22708

Zeolites impregnated with Ni were successfully synthesized through wet impregnation using activated natural zeolites (ANZs) and the nickel nitrate hexahydrate (Ni(NO3)2·6H2O) precursor at different concentrations of 1%, 2% and 3% (w/w) (hereafter referred to as ANZ/Ni 1%, ANZ/Ni 2%, and ANZ/Ni 3%). The synthesized products were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface area analyzer (SAA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), total acidity measurements by employing ammonia adsorption and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) theory. The obtained catalysts were employed in the hydrocracking of waste cooking oils, and the formed products were analyzed through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The FTIR results indicated that ANZs impregnated with Ni can increase zeolite acidity. The test results of total acidity revealed that 3% ANZ/Ni catalyst exhibited the maximum total acidity of 3.70 mmol/g. XRD diffractogram confirmed the successful impregnation of Ni into ANZs, which was indicated by the characteristic diffraction peaks appearing at 2θ of 9.75º, 13.41º, 19.56º, 22.25º, 25.61º, 27.66º and 31.91º. SEM analysis indicated that the particle size of zeolite catalysts was non-uniform, but these catalysts exhibited a highly uniform surface after they were activated. Moreover, the ANZ catalysts impregnated with different concentrations of Ni exhibited a highly uniform particle size. The ANZ/Ni 3% catalyst had small uniform particle. The BET results revealed that the ANZ/Ni 2% catalyst exhibited the maximum pore volume and surface area and relatively smaller radii of pores. GC-MS was employed to determine liquid products, and its results showed that the ANZ/Ni 3% catalyst had the maximum amount of liquid products of 18%.