Deoxygenation of fatty acids for preparation of hydrocarbons
Embodiments of methods for making renewable diesel by deoxygenating (decarboxylating/decarbonylating/dehydrating) fatty acids to produce hydrocarbons are disclosed. Fatty acids are exposed to a catalyst selected from a) Pt and MO 3 on ZrO 2 (M is W, Mo, or a combination thereof), or b) Pt/Ge or Pt/Sn on carbon, and the catalyst decarboxylates at least 10% of the fatty acids. In particular embodiments, the catalyst consists essentially of 0.7 wt % Pt and 12 wt % WO 3 , relative to a mass of catalyst, or the catalyst consists essentially of a) 5 wt % Pt and b) 0.5 wt % Ge or 0.5 wt % Sn, relative to a mass of catalyst. Deoxygenation is performed without added hydrogen and at less than 100 psi. Disclosed embodiments of the catalysts deoxygenate at least 10% of fatty acids in a fatty acid feed, and remain capable of deoxygenating fatty acids for at least 200 minutes to more than 350 hours.
1. A mixture comprising:
a composition suitable for use as a renewable fuel, comprising
hydrocarbons in a liquid state, and
at least 1 part per million (ppm) Pt, W, Mo, and/or Zr.
2. The mixture of claim 1 , comprising a) at least 1 ppm Pt, b) at least 1 ppm Zr, and c) at least 1 ppm W, Mo, or a combination of W and Mo.
3. The mixture of claim 1 , comprising a) at least 1 ppm Pt, b) at least 10 ppm Zr, and/or c) at least 10 ppm W, Mo, or a combination of W and Mo.
4. The mixture of claim 1 , comprising a) at least 1 ppm Pt, b) at least 50 ppm Zr, and/or c) at least 10 ppm W, Mo, or a combination of W and Mo.
5. The mixture of claim 1 , comprising at least 1 ppm Pt, at least 1 ppm Zr, and at least 1 ppm W.
6. The mixture of claim 1 , comprising at least 1 ppm Pt, at least 1 ppm Zr, and at least 1 ppm Mo.
7. The mixture of claim 1 , comprising at least 1 ppm Pt, at least 1 ppm Zr, and at least 1 ppm of a combination of W and Mo.
8. The mixture of claim 1 wherein greater than 70% of the hydrocarbons are C15-C17 hydrocarbons.
9. The mixture of claim 1 wherein greater than 80% of the hydrocarbons are C15-C17 hydrocarbons.
10. The mixture of claim 1 wherein greater than 90% of the hydrocarbons are C15-C17 hydrocarbons.
11. The mixture of claim 1 wherein the composition is suitable for use as a renewable diesel fuel.
12. The mixture of claim 1 wherein the composition is substantially oxygen-free.
13. The mixture of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbons comprise mono-methyl branched hydrocarbons.
14. The mixture of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbons comprise branched, cyclic, and/or aromatic hydrocarbons.
15. A mixture comprising:
a substantially oxygen-free composition suitable for use as a renewable diesel fuel, comprising
hydrocarbons in a liquid state, wherein greater than 70% of the hydrocarbons are C15-C17 hydrocarbons,
at least 1 ppm Pt,
at least 1 ppm Zr, and
at least 1 ppm W, Mo, or a combination of W and Mo.
16. The mixture of claim 15 wherein the hydrocarbons comprise branched, cyclic, and/or aromatic hydrocarbons.