Synthesis and Application of Novel NiMoK/TS-1 for Selective Conversion of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters/Triglycerides to Olefins

Methyl palmitate (or triglyceride) was converted into C15 olefin with remarkable selectivity using nickel-molybdenum oxides on the mesoporous titanosilicate support. The olefin has one carbon atom less than the acid portion of the ester. A new catalyst NiMoK/TS-1 was synthesized in which the effect of acidity of supports and molybdenum loading on the decarboxylation conversion along with product selectivity was investigated in methyl palmitate conversion into C15 olefin. The prepared catalysts were analyzed using ammonia-temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) techniques. The reaction was carried out using a vapor-phase fixed-bed downflow reactor system at atmospheric pressure. The NiMoK/TS-1 catalyst at a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 5.6/h was found to be selective toward C15 olefin. The catalyst was stable up to 15 h, and it can be regenerated with no considerable decrease in the activity even after fourth reuse. Beyond 653 K, the conversion of methyl palmitate increased but the selectivity for C15 products and C15 olefin was decreased.