Catalisadores de paládio suportado em carvão ativado para produção de biocombustíveis

Abstract

The aim of this study is the preparation and characterization of the Pd/C catalyst for the stearic acid decarboxylation in order to obtain paraffinic biodiesel. The precursors used in the coal preparation were the coconut endocarp and the Manila palm sheath. These coals were chemically activated and by microwave hydrothermal treatment with HNO3 solution. Its characterization showed that the microwave activation induced a decrease in catalysts microporous structure. The porous structure of each coal was determined by N2 adsorption at 77 K. The isotherm data were by BET, Langmuir, t-plot and BJH methods. The ZCP values and the ash content were determined. The identification and quantification of chemical groups on the activated coals surface used the Boehm method and infrared spectroscopy, which showed formation of carboxylic groups for all samples. The coals originated from the coconut endocarp (CAE AC and CAE MW), activated by both methods, had higher SMIC than the coals from the palm sheath (CAB and CAB AC MW). The CAB coals are more mesoporous, while the CAE coals have a more relevant microporous structure. The Pd/C catalysts were prepared by dry impregnation and by alcohol reduction. The catalysts characterization was performed using the SEM-FE, H2 chemisorption, N2 adsorption/desorption of at 77 K and FTIR. The metallic phase deposition favored a decrease in total surface area. The catalysts synthesized by dry impregnation showed larger micropore areas. The SEM-FE showed that in the catalysts prepared by alcohol reduction the metal deposition occurred preferentially at the surface, where as it in the catalysts prepared by dry impregnation, probably occurred within the pores. The Pd/C catalysts used in the catalytic decarboxylation reaction of stearic acid, at 350°C in H2 atmosphere showed conversions and high selectivity for heptadecane. The catalysts derived from coal CAE showed higher selectivity in relation to the formation of the desired product, the heptadecane. We observed a trend of higher conversions for the catalysts synthesized by dry impregnation. Some catalysts showed deactivation after three hours of reaction.