Use Of Pt/Mesoporous Silica from Silica Beach Sand for Hydrocracking of Castor Oil and Reusability

Biofuel is essential in addressing petroleum-based fuel issues. The most widely used biofuels are vegetable oils. One of the processes to convert vegetable oil into fuel is hydrocracking which requires a catalyst with good activity. This research studied platinum-based mesoporous silica (MS) catalyst in hydrocracking castor oil. The catalysts Pt/MS were synthesized by wet impregnating mesoporous silica from beach sand and standard silica (SBA-15) with platinum (Pt) metal of 15wt%, and were denoted as Pt/MS and Pt/SBA-15 catalysts. The characterization, activity, and reusability of these catalysts in hydrocracking castor oil were evaluated. The hydrocracking process was done in hydrocracking reactor at 450 °C for 2 h and was run for 4 times for its reusability. The results showed that MS and Pt/MS catalysts have specific surface areas of 122 m2/g, 273.9 m2/g, respectively, compared to standard Pt/SBA-15 of 436 m2/g. The average pores were 4.65 nm, 3.9 nm, and 7.63 nm. The catalysts showed a crystal diffractogram pattern with crystal peaks appearing at 2ɵ = 39; 46˚, 67˚ and 80˚. The liquid fractions produced from the hydrocracking process of MS, Pt/MS, and Pt/SBA-15 were 41.2–46 wt.%, 48.4–50.9 wt.%, and 45.3–47 wt.% with total yield of 84.8–93.8 wt.%, 79–90 wt.%, and 79–89.8 wt.%, respectively, and with a reusability until 4 times. These results showed that Pt/MS catalyst has great performance with reusability until 4 times and still produce product of 79–93.8 wt.%.