Mesoporous TiO2: Potential catalyst for deoxygenation of triglyceride to hydrocarbon-like biofuel

Authors

  • Joon Ching Juan Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8253-6049
  • Lee Eng Oi Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya
  • Min-Yee Choo Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya
  • Zulkepli Suraya Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya
  • Hwei Voon Lee Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/mjcat.v2n2.36

Keywords:

Deoxygenation, Mesoporous TiO2, triolein, hydrocarbon

Abstract

Worldwide environmental concern owing to greenhouse gas emission through combustion of fossil fuel and depletion of fossil fuel urged the need for sustainable biofuel production. Special attention has been given to the deoxygenation, an important method for a sustainable supply of biofuel for future generations. This work reports the deoxygenation of triglycerides to hydrocarbon-like biofuel over commercial nanoparticle TiO2 (NP-TiO2) and synthesized mesoporous TiO2 (M-TiO2). Mesoporous TiO2 (M-TiO2) was synthesized via sol-gel method by addition of triblock copolymer (Pluronic F127) as surfactant. The physicochemical properties of these catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET and Raman spectroscopy. The deoxygenation of triglycerides was studied by using triolein as model compound at 380 °C for 4 h. The major deoxygenated products of the reaction are olefin and paraffin. The synthesized M-TiO2 catalyst gave higher conversion (62%) as compared with NP-TiO2 (49%). This result may due to the higher surface area and presence of mesoporosity which improve the diffusional transport of reactants.  This study suggests that surface area and porosity play an essential role in determining deoxygenation activities. Mesoporous TiO2 is a promising catalyst in producing hydrocarbon-like biofuel from triglyceride. 

Author Biographies

Joon Ching Juan, Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya

University of Malaya

Lee Eng Oi, Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya

University of Malaya

Min-Yee Choo, Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya

University of Malaya

Zulkepli Suraya, Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya

University of Malaya

Hwei Voon Lee, Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya

University of Malaya

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Published

2017-07-27

How to Cite

Juan, J. C., Oi, L. E., Choo, M.-Y., Suraya, Z., & Lee, H. V. (2017). Mesoporous TiO2: Potential catalyst for deoxygenation of triglyceride to hydrocarbon-like biofuel. Malaysian Journal of Catalysis, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.11113/mjcat.v2n2.36

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Research Article

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