Bio-fuel production from hydroconversion of hexadecane over Pt/ SAPO-11 catalysts

The hydroconversion of normal renewable diesel fractions appears as a pivotal process in the production of biofuel derived from lipids. The adaptability of bio-fuel product distribution to align with market demand necessitates the utilization of catalysts with superior performance in long-chain alkane hydroconversion. The hydroconversion performance of the model compound hexadecane over Pt/SAPO-11 catalysts was comprehensively investigated. The accessibility alpha of B acidity in Pt/SAPO-11 catalysts was determined using Py and DMPyIR, and its impact on hexadecane hydroconversion was addressed. This study revealed that the shape selectivity mechanism in long-chain alkane hydroconversion on Pt/SAPO-11 catalysts involves the combination of the transition state and product shape selectivity catalysis. Pt/SAPO-11-S1, with the largest accessibility factor alpha, reached unprecedented maximum yield levels of 68 %, 87 %, and 37 % for multibranched C 16 H 34 isomers, total C 16 H 34 isomers, and jet fuel fractions, respectively. Additionally, Pt/SAPO-11-S1 exhibited excellent performance for isomerization and jet fuel production in actual renewable diesel hydroconversion. It demonstrates the potential of Pt/SAPO-11 catalysts featuring accessible B acidity in renewable diesel hydroconversion.