Hydroconversion of sunflower oil on Pd/SAPO-31 catalyst

This work presents results from the hydroconversion of sunflower oil on the bifunctional Pd/SAPO-31 catalyst as a perspective technological way for single-stage production of hydrocarbons in the diesel fuel range that have improved low-temperature properties. Transformation of sunflower oil was performed at temperatures of 310-360 degrees C and WHSV = 0.9-1.6 h(-1), under a pressure of 2.0 MPa in a laboratory flow reactor. Gaseous and liquid reaction products were analyzed by GC using an internal standard method as well as by H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. At temperatures 320-350 degrees C, liquid reaction product contained only hydrocarbons, the main components were identified as C-17 and C-18 n-alkanes and i-alkanes. Pd/SAPO-31 catalyst demonstrated high initial activity for the hydroconversion of the feed and good isomerizating properties, but its deactivation was followed after several hours of operation. Physico-chemical properties of both fresh and spent catalysts were compared. The influence of reaction conditions on the composition of the reaction products is also discussed. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.