Production of Green Diesel via the Ni/Al Mo Hydrotalcite Catalyzed Deoxygenation of Rapeseed Oil

Growing concern about anthropogenic climate change and the continuous increase in the energy demand have driven the need to explore new energy sources, particularly in the transportation sector. Biodiesel is one of the most widely used biofuels, but its disadvantages restrict its use in blends with conventional diesel. A better alternative is green diesel, a hydrocarbon biofuel that can be used in its pure form and is produced through the catalytic deoxygenation of vegetable oils. In this study, a NiMoAl catalyst derived from layered double hydroxides (LDHs) was synthesized and used for the catalytic deoxygenation of rapeseed oil to produce green diesel. The catalyst was characterized using IR, XRD, and BET analysis. The reactions were carried out in a batch reactor, and parameters such as the temperature, pressure, catalyst loading, and reaction time were examined. The results demonstrated that the complete conversion of rapeseed oil was achieved under optimal conditions (320 °C, 40 bar H₂, 4 wt% catalyst), with a diesel-range hydrocarbon content of over 90%. The recyclability of the catalyst was also evaluated, showing sustained activity over multiple reaction cycles while maintaining high conversion and selectivity toward hydrocarbons in the diesel range.