Performance of Ni-Mo Sulfated Nanozirconia Catalyst for Conversion of Waste Cooking Oil into Biofuel via Hydrocracking Process

Abstract

The synthesis of the Ni-Mo sulfated zirconia (NiMo-SZ) catalyst and its application to convert waste cooking oil into biofuel was successfully conducted. The synthesis process was started with a sulfation process on the zirconia oxide (ZrO2) using 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 M sulfuric acid (H2SO4) through wet impregnation to obtain sulfated zirconia (SZ). Solid SZ with the highest total acidity value was calcined at temperature 500, 550, 600, 650, and 700 °C. Solid SZ calcined with the optimum temperature was treated with Ni and Mo metals at 1%, 2%, and 3% (w/w) through a hydrothermal method. Pure ZrO2, SZ, and 1, 2, and 3 NiMo-SZ catalysts were used in the hydrocracking of used cooking oil into biofuel. The results showed that the 1.5 M SZ catalyst calcined at 500 °C had the highest acidity value of 3.8137 mmol/g. The 3-NiMo-SZ catalyst had the best activity valuing at 80.54%, while 1-NiMo-SZ produced the best selectivity in producing gasoline fraction until 73.93%.