Catalytic deoxygenation of fatty acids to diesel-range hydrocarbons over promoted platinum catalysts

Abstract

Catalysis plays an important role in providing suitable solutions for societal problems. Energy security and environment pollution are the issues gaining world attention. This ignited the zeal to develop solutions for sustainable energy production. Catalytic conversion of biomass to renewable, transport fuels surmounts the shortage of fossil fuel resources and provides future energy assurance. Non-edible vegetable oils and their constituent fatty acids are the right choice of biomass having a vast scope of research to produce renewable fuels. Since this biogenous feedstock is rich in oxygen content, it must be deoxygenated and hydroisomerized (if needed) to exploit its feasible application as hydrocarbon fuel (green diesel or jet fuel). Thus, the catalytic deoxygenation is considered as heart of ‘biorefinery.’ The green diesel produced by deoxygenation of inedible vegetable oils or fatty acids is advantageous over the ester-based biodiesel in terms of its oxidation stability, viscosity, cold-flow property and compatibility for mixing with the conventional diesel. Moreover, the green diesel process could be integrated with the conventional refining process.