Effect of Metal–Acid Balance on Hydroprocessed Renewable Jet Fuel Synthesis from Hydrocracking and Hydroisomerization of Biohydrogenated Diesel over Pt-Supported Catalysts

The development of Pt-supported catalysts for a selective hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of biohydrogenated diesel (BHD, n -C15–C18) to hydroprocessed renewable jet (HRJ) fuel (C9–C14) was investigated. The different acidic supports (i.e., HY zeolite with SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ratios of 5.5 and 100 and amorphous silica–alumina supports) loaded with 0.5 wt % Pt content were prepared and tested for the catalytic conversion of BHD to HRJ fuel. The Pt supported on HY zeolite with SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ratio of 100 denoted as Pt/HY(100) catalyst exhibited the highest jet fuel yield with high branched isomers due to its good balance between metal and acid function. The effects of the reaction temperature, reaction pressure, and liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) on the hydrocracking and hydroisomerization performance were studied over Pt/HY(100) catalyst. The jet fuel yield was obtained at maximum value of 33 wt % at 310 °C, 450 psig, LHSV of 1.0 h –1, and H 2 /BHD molar ratio of 30. A stability test was also conducted over Pt/HY(100) catalyst for 160 h. No significant change in the catalytic activity and selectivity during the test was observed, indicating the high stability of the Pt/HY(100) catalyst.