In-situ hydrogen generation from 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene for catalytic conversion of oleic acid to diesel fuel hydrocarbons: Parametric studies using Response Surface Methodology approach

Cheah, Kin Wai; Yusup, Suzana; Kyriakou, Georgios; Ameen, Mariam; Taylor, Martin J.; Nowakowski, Daniel J.; Bridgwater, Anthony V.; Uemura, Yoshimitsu

Abstract

This work reported a new strategy in producing synthetic diesel hydrocarbons from a mono-unsaturated fatty acid model compound, oleic acid and replacing high pressure molecular hydrogen with a hydrogen-rich donor solvent, 1,2,3,4–tetrahydronaphthalene for the first time. Under the absence of an external H2 supply, oleic acid was dispersed in 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene and hydrotreated over commercially available 5 wt% Pd/C in a fed-batch reactor to obtain diesel range fuel products. A maximum oleic acid conversion of 92.4% and highest diesel hydrocarbon selectivity of 67.4% were achieved at 330 °C with a solvent to fatty acid mass ratio of 1 for 3 h under autogenous pressure. In-situ H2 produced from 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene operated as an effective hydrogen donor vehicle that continuously transported active hydrogen species from gas phase to reactant acid molecules and radical fragments. It minimized polymerization of reaction intermediate and suppressed coke formation, which subsequently improved catalyst resistance toward deactivation.

Citation

Cheah, K. W., Yusup, S., Kyriakou, G., Ameen, M., Taylor, M. J., Nowakowski, D. J., Bridgwater, A. V., & Uemura, Y. (2019). In-situ hydrogen generation from 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene for catalytic conversion of oleic acid to diesel fuel hydrocarbons: Parametric studies using Response Surface Methodology approach. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 44(37), 20678-20689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.05.112

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 19, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jun 19, 2018
• Publication Date: Aug 2, 2019
• Deposit Date: Apr 23, 2019
• Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
• Print ISSN: 0360-3199
• Electronic ISSN: 0360-3199
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 37
• Pages: 20678-20689
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.05.112
• Keywords: Fuel Technology; Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment; Energy Engineering and Power Technology; Condensed Matter Physics
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1172698
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360319918316574?via%3Dihub
• Related Public URLs: https://research.aston.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/insitu-hydrogen-generation-from-1234tetrahydronaphthalene-for-catalytic-conversion-of-oleic-acid-to-diesel-fuel-hydrocarbons(972db0d5-c8f8-46d2-9e26-9575f1021466).html