Synthesis and Characterizations of Nickel Supported on Activated Charcoal and its Application for Green Fuel Production

Waste cooking oil (WCO) that contained triglycerides and fatty acid derivatives can be transformed to green fuel that have similar properties to the fossil fuel. Hence, this study was focusing on the production of green fuel hydrocarbons from feedstock of waste cooking oil by deoxygenation process. The deoxygenation reaction of WCO was conducted using different loading of nickel (Ni) (5, 10, 15 and 20 % w/w) supported on commercial activated charcoal. Based on the catalytic deoxygenation (DO) reaction, the highest conversion of hydrocarbon was achieved when the reaction undergo using Ni20%AC as catalyst at 350°C for 3 hours under inert atmosphere. The present of the higher loading active metal showed high DO reaction by decarboxylation and decarbonylation pathways with high hydrocarbon yield of 83% and high selectivity of n-C15 and n-C17. DO reaction also favoured the optimum strength of acidity. This study revealed that Ni20%AC catalyst is a promising catalyst for the green fuel production in WCO.