Highly efficient Pt-MoOx/ZrO2 catalyst for green diesel production

Bimetallic Pt-MoOx supported on ZrO2 exhibits higher catalytic activity than known catalysts for converting fatty acids into green diesel at as low as 200 degrees C. A change in selectivity from decarboxylation/decarbonylation to hydrodeoxygenation and enhancement in the deoxygenation activity of Pt were observed when MoOx was also present in the catalyst composition. In X-ray photoelectron spectra, Pt 4f lines of 4Pt-8MoO(x)/ZrO2 occurred at lower binding energies than those for 4Pt/ZrO2. Part of Mo was reduced from +6 to +5 oxidation state in the presence of Pt. There seems to exist some electronic interaction between the support and metal, making 4Pt-8MoO(x)/ZrO2 a highly efficient and selective deoxygenation catalyst.