Synthesis of nickel catalyst supported on ZrO₂/SO₄ pillared bentonite and its application for conversion of coconut oil into gasoline via hydrocracking process

A set of nickel catalyst supported on sulfated zirconia pillared bentonite (Ni-BZS) was synthesized and applied to the hydrocracking process to convert coconut oil to biodiesel. This catalyst was synthesized to study the synergy of physicochemical properties, high solid acidity, and the homolytic dissociation of hydrogen molecular properties in the hydrocracking process. Modifications were prepared on bentonite clay through pillarization with zirconia, sulfation with sulfuric acid, and impregnation of nickel metal, with optimization strategy for the sulfation stage, which was the focus of this study. ZrO2-bentonite (BZ); ZrO2-bentonite treated with 1 M H2SO4 (BZS 1); Ni supported on ZrO2-bentonite treated with 0.5 M H2SO4 (Ni-BZS 0.5) was calculated to be 3.45, 5.02, and 4.31 mmol/g respectively as the catalyst with the highest acidity in each modification stage. Ni-BZS 0.5 catalyst exclusively showed the highest activity and selectivity for the conversion of coconut oil to bio-gasoline. In the hydrocracking test, this catalyst was able to convert coconut oil into liquid fuel up to 53%, and the selectivity for gasoline is 31%. From this perspective, catalyst acidity is not the only determinant factor for conversion yield. What distinguishes this catalyst combination from other catalysts is the role of Ni metal which has hydrogen dissociation properties. So it needs to be studied further for its effect in other studies. In addition, it is necessary to optimize the composition of the catalyst and feed again in the hydrocracking process.