Transformation of waste vegetable oil to green fuel in the presence of novel heterogeneous catalysts

• Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of waste vegetable oil was investigated. • Pt-Fe 2 O 3 -ZrO 2 catalyst was synthesized by modifying ZrO 2 with Fe 2 O 3 and Pt. • The product comprises hydrocarbon fractions within the aviation fuel and diesel range. • Elemental analysis reveals a 91.3% deoxygenation efficiency. Waste vegetable oil, chosen for its abundant availability, is utilised for fuel production via a novel catalyst using a hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) process. The catalyst is novel (based on composition), synthesized by modifying ZrO 2 with Fe 2 O 3 and Pt as an active metal, resulting in the final composition of Pt-Fe 2 O 3 -ZrO 2 by incorporating the incipient impregnation technique. Comprehensive characterisation of the catalyst using XRD, SEM, BET, NH 3 -TPD, and XPS confirms its suitability for HDO. The resulting liquid oil, obtained through HDO of waste vegetable oil in the presence of Pt-Fe 2 O 3 -ZrO 2 , consists of hydrocarbon fractions within the aviation fuel and diesel range. Additionally, while waste vegetable oil initially contains even-numbered oxygenated hydrocarbons, the product oil results after HDO contains both odd- and even-numbered hydrocarbons, indicating the occurrence of decarbonylation, decarboxylation, and dehydration reactions. Elemental analysis reveals a 91.3% deoxygenation efficiency, demonstrating the high catalytic activity of the synthesised material and confirming its reusability, which enhances its commercial viability.