Bifunctional Pt Catalysts Supported on a Zeolite-Binder Matrix for the Hydrodeoxygenation of Isoeugenol for Renewable Jet Fuel Production

Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of isoeugenol was carried out at 200 °C and 30 bar of H₂ in a batch reactor using a series of bifunctional catalysts consisting of platinum supported on zeolite H-Beta-25 or H-Beta-300 and Bindzil as a binder. The purpose of the matrix was to understand the effect of the binder on the reaction, emulating the components of industrial catalysts and therefore facilitating catalyst scale-up. The effect of the supports acid strength, the location of metal nanoparticles, and their proximity to acid sites was also studied. The catalysts were characterized by N₂ physisorption, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that platinum supported only on the zeolite was more active compared to platinum located on the binder. High levels of isoeugenol conversion (ca. 100%), propylcyclohexane yield (56%) and the liquid-phase mass balance (68%) were obtained for the catalyst consisting of Pt supported on both zeolite H-Beta-25 and Bindzil.