Decarboxylation of Oleic Acid to Heptadecane over Pt Supported on Zeolite 5A Beads

The synthesis of Pt supported on zeolite 5A beads for the decarboxylation of oleic acid to heptadecane is demonstrated. The use of a microporous ZIF-67 crystalline layer on zeolite 5A beads not only improved the heptadecane selectivity but also, most importantly, improved the stability of the resultant catalyst. Heptadecane yields as high as ∼81% were observed for the fresh catalysts. The catalysts displayed only low to moderate loss of catalytic activity after two rounds of recycle. To our best knowledge, the catalytic performance of these catalysts is superior to those of the state-of-the-art catalysts at mild reaction conditions. In addition, as compared to powders, beads are much easier to recycle, can be fully recovered, and are more amenable for potential scale-up. The resultant catalysts are promising for the catalytic conversion of fatty acid molecules into gasoline/diesel-range hydrocarbons.