Development of Zeolite-Based Catalyst for Catalytic Cracking of Palm Oil for Production of Biogasoline

• Main Author: RICKY GUNAWAN NIM : 13014097
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/30428
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Petroleum production in Indonesia could not meet the national petroleum demands. This situation forced Indonesia to import petroleum up to 99 million barrels in 2016. On the other hand, Indonesia is known as the largest palm oil producer and exporter in the world. Indonesia produced up to 31.5 million tonnes of palm oil in 2016 and CPO production grows 11.50% annually. Approximately 80% of total CPO production was exported to various countries throughout the world. Reflecting on the enormous potential of palm oil production in Indonesia, production of biogasoline from palm oil via catalytic cracking is one of the promising solutions to reduce and even halt petroleum imports. Various kinds of zeolite catalysts, especially H-ZSM-5, are utilized in the catalytic cracking of vegetable oils. However, the small pores in H-ZSM-5 catalysts limit diffusion of large and bulky molecules. On the contrary, previous research proved that catalytic cracking of CPO using hierarchial H-ZSM-5 which has larger pores compared to standard H-ZSM-5 produced OLP that was mostly aromatic. Biogasoline yield allegedly can be improved by utilizing USY catalyst and varying Si/Al ratio in the H-ZSM-5 catalyst framework. <br /> <br /> <br /> The objectives of this research are the determination of the catalytic cracking performace of various zeolite-based catalysts, which includes H-ZSM-5 with varying Si/Al ratio and USY, and also the determination of Si/Al ratio that optimizes cracking performace (high biogasoline yield, high conversion, and low coke formation). The catalysts that are tested consist of USY and H-ZSM-5 with various Si/Al ratio (25, 38, 50, and 80). Catalysts are characterized using nitrogen isothermal adsorption and NH3-TPD methods. Gas product is analyzed using GC-TCD and GC-FID while liquid product is analyzed using GC-FID and GC-DHA. Thermogravimetric analysis is used to determine coke formation. <br /> <br /> <br /> Catalytic performance is based on liquid product yield, aromatic concentration in liquid product, RON, and stability of catalysts. Cracking using H-ZSM-5 with Si/Al ratio of 25 had the highest liquid product yield among all catalysts (60.1%-wt). Cracking using H-ZSM-5 with Si/Al ratio of 80 produced liquid product with the highest aromatic content and RON, 98.5%-wt and 124.4 respectively. H-ZSM-5 with Si/Al ratio of 80 had the best stability because it was not deactivated until 12 hours of continuous usage. <br />