Deoxygenation of Macauba acid oil over Co-based catalyst supported on activated biochar from Macauba endocarp: A potential and sustainable route for green diesel and biokerosene production

Conventional biofuels, as biodiesel and bioethanol, are oxygenated compounds that have different physicalchemical properties when compared to fossil fuels. Otherwise, drop-in biofuels are bio-hydrocarbons that have the same chemical composition of fossil fuels. These oxygen-free fuels can be used without changes in structure that already exists to fossils fuels, as engines, turbines and tanks. This work presents the synthesis of bio-hydrocarbons via deoxygenation over Co/C catalyst using Macauba acid oil as feedstock. It is an inedible oil, with high acidity (about 38%) from a perennial palm tree with high oil productivity. Macauba endocarp activated carbon supported cobalt catalyst was synthesized and tested in order to develop a low cost and sustainable conversion route. Degree of deoxygenation of 98.4 %wt was achieved using Macauba pulp oil as feedstock, 10 wt % of catalyst, at temperature of 350 degrees C, pressure of 30 bar H2 for 4 h. The synthesized bio-hydrocarbons presented carbon chains equivalent to the fractions of gasoline, aviation kerosene and, mostly, diesel. These drop-in biofuels and the innovative catalyst appear as an important alternative for transport sector and for improving the sustainability of Macauba biorefinery.