THE NiO AND MoO3 ENRICHED ZSM-5 AS CATALYST FOR THE HYDROCRACKING OF COCONUT OIL INTO BIO-JET FRACTION

Abstract

ZSM-5 was enriched with NiO (nickel oxide) or MoO3 (molybdenum oxide) and used as a catalyst to increase selectivity towards the bio-jet fuel fraction from the hydrocracking of coconut oil. NiO and MoO3 were incorporated into ZSM-5 through wet impregnation at various concentrations of 0.5–5% (wt.). The catalyst material characteristics were analyzed using XRD (X-ray Diffraction), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope), and nitrogen gas adsorption instruments. The catalyst activity was observed through a hydrocracking reaction at a temperature of 475 °C for 3 hours, using coconut oil as feed and the catalyst concentration was 2 (wt.%). The results showed that NiO and MoO3 were distributed successfully into ZSM-5. Catalyst's catalytic activity was strongly influenced by the amount of NiO and MoO3 embedded into ZSM-5. The Ni-1, Ni-5, Mo-1, Mo-3, Mo-4, and Mo-5 catalysts increased the selectivity towards the bio-jet fraction by 55%, 34%, 49%, 37%, 36%, and 62%, respectively when compared to ZSM-5.