Study on co-catalyst of Layer Double Hydroxide (LDH) and metal catalyst for deoxygenation of Used Cooking Oil (UCO) to produce green fuel

• UCO utilization as a source of green fuel, an alternative a renewable fuel. • Simpler approach to examined catalytic process at lower temperature in reactor that equipped with distillation to give direct analysis for the product. • Providing detailed assessment and deeper insights upon these enablers by establishing contextual interconnection and specific impacts of co-catalyst. • Research must continue to mindfully integrate eco-friendly options into traditional life styles that UCO to green fuel is a valuable contribution toward the future of environmentally sustainable and cost-effective fuel. Green fuel that produced from Used Cooking Oil (UCO) has emerged as a cleaner technology, a product with better properties than biodiesel attracted research community.This work was further observation from profiling co-catalyst consisted Layer Double Hydroxide (LDH) and Fe and Cu as metal catalysts for DeOxygenation (DO). Co-catalytic reactor was operated at low temperature, 250 °C, adjusted to C 12 H 26 boiling point. Moreover, The reactor was equipped with condensor and operated for 36 h to obtain the distillate. Effect of co-catalyst was assessed with Response Surface Method (RSM) using Stat Ease 360 Design Expert. The experimental design for co-catalyst was set at 2 % LDH, 1–3 % Cu and 2–4 % Fe. LDH role was to cut fatty acid chain, while Fe-Cu was to shift in producing more Hydrocarbon (HC) in distillate. As a result, LDH was able to break down fatty acid chain which indicated by average molecular weight fatty acid in UCO 264 and 150 in distillate. Meanwhile, Fe+Cu was able to convert 66.53 % fatty acid and suppress alcohol, ester and ketone/aldehyde formation and shifted to HC. HC level and selectivity reached 59 % and 86 %, respectively. Therefore, LDH and Fe+Cu as co-catalyst were synergized as expected. Simulation of distillate yield was carried out with RSM optimal at 2 % LDH, 4 % Fe and 3 % predicted the yield 10.37 %. Experiment approval showed the yield was 10.7 %.