Performance of Activated Carbon Supported Cobalt Oxides and Iron Oxide Catalysts in Catalytic Cracking of Waste Cooking Oil

Abstract

This work studied the catalyst activity of activated carbon (AC) supported Co, Fe and Co-Fe oxides in catalytic cracking of waste cooking oil. Reactions were carried out in a fixed bed reactor at 450 °C with WHSV 9 hr^–1. Single metal Co/AC and Fe/AC catalysts with different metal loading (2.5–15 wt.%) and bimetal xCo-yFe/AC (x, y = 2.5 to 12.5 wt.%; x + y =15 wt.%) catalysts were investigated. Co/AC and Fe/AC catalysts both contributed to significant liquid yield with high selectivity towards C₁₅ and C₁₇ hydrocarbons. Fe/AC catalysts gave high C₅ – C₂₀ hydrocarbon yield whereas Co/AC attained more palmitic (C₁₆) and oleic (C₁₈) acid conversion. Synergistic effect in two metals Co-Fe/AC catalysts had further improved the liquid hydrocarbon yield (up to ~93 %) and fatty acid conversion (up to 94 %). The best catalyst, 10Co-5Fe/AC had been further tested under the effect of reaction temperature, feed flow rate (WHSV) and deactivation for its catalytic performance.