Efficient hydrodeoxygenation of used cooking oil using molybdenum phosphide on silica supports for sustainable green fuel production

This study investigated the catalytic hydrotreatment of triglycerides using molybdenum phosphide (MoP) supported on different silica-based materials and evaluated their performance in hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reactions. The catalysts were synthesized using the phosphite method and characterized using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption‒desorption isotherms, temperature‒programmed desorption (NH 3 -TPD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. Catalytic activity tests were conducted using methyl laurate (ML) and glyceryl trioleate (GLY) as model compounds, as well as used cooking oil (UCO). This study examined the effect of different supports, including silica and silica-alumina with varying pellet morphologies (cylinder and trilobe), on the catalytic performance. The results showed that MoP supported on trilobe silica (MoP/SiO 2 -t) exhibited the highest conversion rates, selectivity for hydrocarbons, and long-term stability over 100 hours. The catalyst demonstrated superior deoxygenation efficiency, effectively reducing oxygenated intermediates. Compared with glyceryl trioleate, used cooking oil resulted in greater conversion due to the presence of additional reactive compounds. These findings highlight MoP/SiO 2 -t as a viable catalyst for scaling up sustainable biofuel production.