Decarboxylation of stearic acid over Ni/MOR catalysts

BACKGROUND Oils derived from plants, animal fats, and algae contain both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids can be converted into liquid fuels and chemicals in the presence of active solid catalysts. RESULTS Nickel‐based catalysts were supported on mordenite via ion exchange sy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical technology and biotechnology (1986) 2020-01, Vol.95 (1), p.102-110
Main Authors: Crawford, James M, Zaccarine, Sarah F, Kovach, Nolan C, Smoljan, Courtney S, Lucero, Jolie, Trewyn, Brian G, Pylypenko, Svitlana, Carreon, Moises A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Animal fat
Atomic beam spectroscopy
Biofuels
Catalysts
Catalytic activity
Chemical synthesis
Decarboxylation
Deoxygenation
Diesel fuels
Emission analysis
Emission spectroscopy
Fats
Fatty acids
Field emission microscopy
Fuels
Heptadecane
Inductively coupled plasma
Ion exchange
lipid biomass
Liquid fuels
Microscopy
Nanoparticles
Nickel
Organic chemistry
pH effects
Recyclability
Scanning electron microscopy
Scanning transmission electron microscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectrum analysis
Stearic acid
Transmission electron microscopy
Zeolites
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Summary:BACKGROUND Oils derived from plants, animal fats, and algae contain both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids can be converted into liquid fuels and chemicals in the presence of active solid catalysts. RESULTS Nickel‐based catalysts were supported on mordenite via ion exchange synthesis and evaluated for the deoxygenation of stearic acid to diesel fuels. By tuning the synthesis pH, loadings of over 20 wt% Ni were obtained. Catalysts synthesized at pH 8.5 displayed the highest Ni loading and the highest activity for the decarboxylation/decarbonylation of stearic acid under inert nitrogen gas atmospheres, yielding 47% heptadecane. Characterization included scanning transmission electron microscopy‐energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (STEM‐EDS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP‐AES), N2 physisorption and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), providing new insights into the recyclability of the catalyst. The observed loss of catalytic activity upon recycling was attributed to the agglomeration of Ni nanoparticles and the accumulation of carbonaceous coke. CONCLUSION This work demonstrates that Ni‐based catalysts supported on mordenite zeolite can effectively convert stearic acid into heptadecane. Yields to heptadecane were as high as 47%. Mechanistically, the reaction proceeds by decarboxylation and decarbonylation pathways. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
ISSN:0268-2575
1097-4660
DOI:10.1002/jctb.6211