Hydrodeoxygenation of isoeugenol in continuous mode using bifunctional Pt-Beta 25-binder catalysts for renewable jet fuel production

A series of extrudates composed of platinum, zeolite H-Beta-25 and Bindzil as a binder were tested in the hydrodeoxygenation of isoeugenol in a continuous trickle-bed reactor to produce propylcyclohexane, a compound within the hydrocarbon range of jet fuel. All catalytic tests were performed at 30 bar of hydrogen, with a gas flow rate of 40 mL min⁻¹, and a liquid flowrate of 0.5 mL min⁻¹ of a mixture of isoeugenol in dodecane (0.012 M). Screening of the catalysts was performed at 150 °C to determine the effect of the metal location, catalyst acidity and the platinum particle size. A higher conversion (53%) and the propylcyclohexane yield (39%) were obtained when Pt was located on both zeolite and the binder, while platinum located on the binder resulted in a lower activity (49% dihydroeugenol conversion and 30% propylcyclohexane yield). The effect of temperature on activity and catalyst deactivation was determined using the catalyst with platinum supported on both the zeolite and the binder. A range of temperatures between 65 and 200 °C was used with a total time on stream of ca. 30 h showing ca. 10% of deactivation. High dihydroeugenol conversions (ca. 100%) and propylcyclohexane yields (>66%) were obtained at 150 °C.