In the present work, the solvent-free
hydrodeoxygenation of palm oil as a representative triglyceride model
compound to diesel-like hydrocarbons was evaluated in a batch reactor
using Pt-decorated MoO2 catalysts. The catalysts with various
Pt loadings (0.5–3%) were synthesized by an incipient wetness
impregnation method. The metallic Pt and MoO2 phases were
detected in the XRD patterns of as-prepared catalysts after the reaction
and acted as active components for the deoxygenation reactions. The
XPS experiments confirmed the existence of metallic Pt and PtO
x
species. The XANES investigation of Mo L3-edge spectra elucidated a change in the valence state by
the transformation of MoO3 into MoO2 species
after the deoxygenation reaction. The TEM observation revealed the
formation of Pt nanoparticles in the range of 1–3 nm decorated
on MoO2 species. The number of acid sites increased with
stronger metal–support interactions on increasing the Pt loading.
The catalytic performance of the MoO2 catalyst significantly
improved with a small amount of Pt decoration. However, the further
increase in Pt loading did not relatively increase the deoxygenation
activity due to the formation of the agglomerated Pt particles. The
high performance of the decorated catalysts could be attributed to
the moderate acidity from the Pt dispersed on MoO2 toward
decarbonylation and decarboxylation reactions.