Activity of ni-nh2/mesoporous silica material as bifunctional catalyst for hydrocracking of used cooking oil

Synthesis of Ni-NH2/mesoporous silica bifunctional catalyst for conversion of used cooking oil into biofuel was carried out. The impregnation of Ni into the MS8 with a specific surface area of 666.6 m2 /g, volume pore of 0.46 cm3 /g, and diameter pore of 4.9 nm was done by wet impregnation method. The functionalization of NH2 into the MS8 and Ni/MS8 was done by the grafting method. The catalytic activity test in used cooking oil hydrocracking was done by thermal (without catalyst), catalyst physical mixture of Ni/MS8 and NH2/MS8, and Ni-NH2/MS8 bifunctional catalyst. The results showed that the Ni/MS8 catalyst with acidity values of 12.804 mmol/g was successfully modified with amine groups to produce Ni-NH2/MS8 bifunctional catalyst. This catalyst was utilized in the hydrocracking process of used cooking oil to produce the highest liquid product of 92.85 wt. with the selectivity of gasoline and diesel fractions of 4.04 and 63.35 wt. respectively. © 2021 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland.