HDO of guaiacol over NiMo catalyst supported on activated carbon derived from castor de-oiled cake

Laburpena

Physical and chemical activation methods were used to prepare two different activated carbons (ACs) from castor de-oiled cake. H2O/CO2 mixture was used as the physical activating agent, and for chemical activation potassium carbonate (K2CO3) was used. For both materials, textural and chemical properties were characterized by N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ACs were used as supports for NiMo sulfide catalysts, which were prepared by wetness impregnation and in-situ sulfided for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of guaiacol (GUA) as a model compound of bio-oil. The HDO reaction was carried out in a typical batch reactor at 5 MPa of H2 and 350 °C. Under the same test conditions, commercial catalysts were also tested in the reaction. Although the commercial catalysts displayed higher GUA conversion, the prepared catalysts showed higher activity and non-oxygenated and saturated products yield.