Hydrocracking of palm oil over metal transition/natural zeolite catalyst

In this study, two kinds of catalysts called LaNiMo-NZ and LaNiZn-NZ catalysts were synthesized using natural zeolite from Lampung as support by the incipient wetness impregnation method. The characterization of catalysts were carried out by Brunaeur-Emmet-Teller (BET), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). The hydrocracking reactions were carried out in a batch reactor at the reaction temperature of 310 oC and hydrogen pressure of 20 bar. The liquid product was analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The catalysts were applied for biofuel production from palm oil by hydrocracking reaction. The results showed that the highest product contained hydrocarbon in the range C10−C26 (4.51 area%) using LaNiMo-NZ catalyst with the most compounds of olefin and normal paraffin. The catalyst was potential for biofuel production by hydrocracking reaction.