Green Diesel Production Through Deoxygenation Reaction with Natural Zeolite-supported Nickel and Copper Catalyst

The depletion of fossil fuels and their environmental impact necessitate sustainable alternatives. Green diesel, a biofuel with a chemical structure similar to conventional diesel, has gained traction as a viable alternative. This study explores the development of a cost-effective catalyst for green diesel production using deoxygenation. Deoxygenation refers to a broad class of chemical reactions where oxygen atoms are stripped from a molecule. This research employed abundant Indonesian natural zeolite (NZ) as a catalyst support, impregnated with non-noble metals, nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu). The investigation revealed that the NiCu/NZ catalyst achieved the highest oleic acid conversion (90.40%) and green diesel yield. The product distribution, ranging from C15 to C18 hydrocarbons, reflects the moderate acidity of the catalyst, promoting diverse cracking patterns compared to highly acidic catalysts. Additionally, the high specific surface area of NZ facilitates the conversion and good product distribution. Furthermore, the optimization process demonstrated that increasing hydrogen pressure during deoxygenation enhances both conversion rate and green diesel production.