Bimetallic NiCe/Lay catalysts facilitated co-pyrolysis of oleic acid and methanol for efficiently preparing anaerobic hydrocarbon fuels

Abstract

Bimetallic NiCe/Lay catalysts were prepared using an impregnation method with a Lay molecular sieve as a carrier, and oleic acid (OA) as a model compound of unsaturated fatty acid for catalytic pyrolysis to prepare bio-airline fuel. Based on the reaction products, the reaction pathways of the products under the bimetallic NiCe/Lay catalyst were deduced. The bimetals were dispersed uniformly on the support Lay, and the catalyst retained the structure of the molecular sieve after loading and had good physical properties such as specific surface area and pore space. Under optimal conditions (pyrolysis/catalytic temperature = 500/500 °C, catalyst loading = 1.0 g, feedstock injection volume =0.5 mL min⁻¹, and OA to methanol ratio = 1 : 5), 100% conversion, 92.77% hydrocarbon yield, and 75.06% hydrocarbon yield in the range of 8–17 carbon atoms were obtained over the Ni–3Ce/Lay catalyst. This study provides highly efficient catalysts for upcycling oleic acid and methanol for producing fuel.