Enhanced catalytic conversion of palm oil into biofuels by Cr-incorporated sulphated zirconia

The conversion of palm oil into biofuels using commercial zirconia (ZrO2) modified sulfuric acid (H2SO4) incorporated with Cr metal has been systematically studied. Sulphated zirconia (ZrO2-SO4) was prepared by dispersing ZrO2 in H2SO4 solution via wet impregnation method. Cr-incorporated sulphated zirconia (Cr/ZrO2-SO4) were prepared hydrothermally through wet impregnation of ZrO2-SO4 and chromium (III) nitrate nonahydrate (Cr(NO3)3·9H2O) solution. The results showed that reduction step with pure hydrogen gas (H2) over non-calcined catalyst (Cr/ZrO2-SO4 (NC)) resulted in higher activity and selectivity than calcined catalyst (Cr/ZrO2-SO4 (C600)). A maximum acidity test result was obtained on Cr/ZrO2-SO4 (NC) of 2.33 mmol g−1, increasing from Cr/ZrO2-SO4 (C600) of 1.32 mmol g−1. The selectivity of gasoline fraction demonstrated by Cr/ZrO2-SO4 (C600) and Cr/ZrO2-SO4 (NC) was observed to contain 35.85% and 36.51%, respectively.