Production of liquid fuel from palmitic acid over nanocrystalline CeO2-based catalysts with minimal use of H2

Abstract

The deoxygenation of palmitic acid into diesel-range hydrocarbons can be promoted over nanocrystalline ceria-based catalysts under atmospheric N2 or 10% H2/N2 in a fixed-bed flow reactor at 400 °C. Oxygen vacancy sites are active for ketonization of palmitic acid to C31 ketone and also subsequent cracking of the formed ketone to hydrocarbons. The 22–31% selectivity of C9 to C17 liquid hydrocarbons can be achieved at 100% palmitic acid conversion. The deoxygenation under N2 can be facilitated, presumably by hydrogen transfer from coke precursors. Catalytic activity of ceria-based catalysts can be tuned by pretreatment conditions, type of a carrier gas, or lattice modification.