Unlocking the potential of converting non-edible oils into sustainable jet fuel-range hydrocarbons using simply prepared nickel- or molybdenum-promoted zirconia catalysts

The growing environmental impact of fossil fuel consumption and the projected depletion of economically viable reserves highlight the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. This study explores the production of bio-jet fuel from Calophyllum inophyllum oil (CIO) and Pongamia pinnata oil (PPO), two non-edible and abundant feedstocks in Indonesia, using Ni/ZrO₂ or Mo/ZrO₂ catalysts. The catalysts were synthesized via spray impregnation, resulting in enhanced total acidity and catalytic activity. Atmospheric hydrotreatment was carried out in a semi-batch reactor under a hydrogen flow of 20 mL/min for 2 h. The results revealed that Ni/ZrO₂ exhibited superior selectivity toward jet fuel-range hydrocarbons (C₈–C₁₆) compared to Mo/ZrO₂. Furthermore, PPO, which contains a higher proportion of longer-chain unsaturated fatty acids (C₁₆–C₂₄), produced a lower bio-jet fuel yield than CIO (C₁₆–C₂₂). The bio-jet fuel derived from CIO using Ni/ZrO₂ as the most effective catalyst demonstrated favorable properties, including a freezing point of –36.8°C and a density of 809.8 kg/m³ at 15°C. Overall, these findings confirm the viability of CIO and PPO as renewable feedstocks and highlight the potential of Ni/ZrO₂ as an efficient catalyst for sustainable aviation fuel production and carbon emission reduction.