Catalytic Deoxygenation of Oleic Acid over Synthesized Ni@CMK-3 Catalyst using Analytical Py-GC/MS and TG-FTIR

Converting waste oils into renewable fuels by catalytic deoxygenation reactions is a promising method to achieve pollution reduction and resource recovery. In this study, Ni@CMK-3 catalyst was synthesized by impregnation method and its performance in oleic acid (OA) pyrolysis which follows deoxygenation reactions was investigated. The silica template (SBA-15), carbon support (CMK-3) and catalyst (Ni@CMK-3) were characterized using XRD patterns, N-2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, Raman spectra, SEM images and ICP-MS analysis. XRD results showed that CMK-3 had uniform hexagonal arrays and metal loading on support did not affect this structure. Nickel loading (20% by mass) to CMK-3 was proven by both ICP-MS (21.6%) and SEM/EDS (17.4%) results. The surface area values were found as 778 m(2)/g for SBA-15; 1461 and 1332 m(2)/g for CMK-3 and Ni@CMK-3, respectively. Non-catalytic and catalytic (OA:catalyst = 1:1 by mass) pyrolysis tests were performed using py-GC/MS. In non-catalytic reaction, OA conversion was low while in the catalytic reaction the value was increased at a temperature of 350 C-o at which hydrocarbons and several acids (2-propenoic acid, hexadecanoic acid etc.) were the most common products in both. These results were also confirmed with TG-FTIR results. The study showed that Ni@CMK-3 catalyst was suitable for OA pyrolysis to produce biofuels.