Stearic acid deoxygenation

Figure 15.1 Simplified reaction scheme of stearic acid deoxygenation. Table 15.1 The values of input variables in laboratory-scale unit [15, 20],...

Heterogeneous catalytic deoxygenation of stearic acid for production of biodiesel. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 45, 5708-5715. 

In the catalytic deoxygenation of stearic acid, the main liquid-phase produd was n-heptadecane. Traces of n-heptadecene were formed, too. Catalyst deactivation was observed due to the formation of unsaturated n-heptadecene, which in turn undergoes cycUzation to C17 aromatic compounds. These kinds of compounds can easily form coke on the catalyst surface. The catalyst deactivation was more prominent as the high initial stearic add concentrations were used. Neither palladium leaching nor sintering was deteded [15]. 

Simakova I, Simakova O, Maki-Arvela P, Simakov A, Estrada M, Murzin DY. Deoxygenation of stearic acid over supported Pd catalysts Effect of metal dispersion. Appl. Catal. A Gen. 2009 355 100. 

Lestari S, Maki-Arvela P, Simakova I, Beltramini J, Max LG. Murzin DY. Catalytic deoxygenation of stearic acid and palmitic acid in a semibatch mode. Catal. Lett 2009 130 48. 

Biodiesel research is an important area to look for information related to decarboxylation. Biodiesel contains fatty acids and fatty acid methyl esters which have undergone further deoxygenation to produce a higher-quality liquid fuel. Pd has been shown to be an active metal for decarboxylation of fatty acids (Maki-Arvela et al., 2007). It was reported that 97% acid conversion to n-heptadecane was obtained with Pd/C. The decarboxylation rate of fatty acids decreased as the fatty acid to metal ratio increased (Simakova et al., 2010). The decarboxylation of stearic acid was also tested using Pd supported on active carbon (Snare et al., 2006) resulting in the conversion of stearic acid to diesel fuel compounds, carbon dioxide, and/or carbon monoxide. The decarboxylation reaction was more prominent over Pd/C catalyst, while... 

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