The Role of Copper in Bimetallic Nickel–Copper BEA Zeolite Catalysts and Their Activity in the Hydrocracking Process of Rapeseed Oil

The main goal of this work was to determine the role of copper in bimetallic nickel-copper BEA zeolite catalysts prepared by sequential impregnation and co-impregnation, as well as defining the influence of the method of impregnation on the catalytic activity of the described catalysts. The all-prepared samples were tested in hydrocracking reactions with rapeseed oil as a feedstock. The physicochemical properties of the catalytic materials were determined using H₂-TPR, TPD-NH₃, XRD, BET, and SEM-EDS techniques. The reaction products were analyzed using chromatographic techniques (HPLC and GC-MS). The bimetallic systems obtained post-impregnation exhibited lower conversions of rapeseed oil than catalysts synthesized by co-impregnation. For all bimetallic catalysts, oil conversion was higher than for the monometallic copper BEA zeolite catalyst. This indicates that nickel is responsible for better oil conversion. The highest oil conversion (92.7%) was noted for the co-impregnated 5%Ni-5%Cu_BEA zeolite catalyst. For all tested catalysts, the highest selectivity was noted for the gasoil fraction. However, the presence of copper in bimetallic Cu-Ni_BEA zeolite catalysts led to increased selectivity towards gasoline and kerosene compared to the monometallic nickel BEA zeolite catalyst.