Synthesis of LaNiCeO2 Mixed Oxide with Various Microcrystalline Cellulose Templated for Deoxygenation of Waste Cooking Oil

Abstract

The synthesis of LaNiCeO2 mixed oxides utilizing varying proportions of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) (12.5%, 25%, and 37.5%) has been successfully achieved. The resulting materials were characterized through XRD, FESEM, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, and TGA- DTG. XRD analysis confirmed that all synthesized LaNiCeO2 mixed oxides exhibited a stable CeO2 phase. Notably, increasing the MCC content led to an improvement in the catalysts’ pore volume and surface area, with the LaNiCeO2-12.5% MCC sample exhibiting a primarily mesoporous structure and minimal micropore contribution. The LaNiCeO2-25% MCC catalyst demonstrated optimal physicochemical properties, indicating its high suitability for catalytic applications. The catalytic deoxygenation of waste cooking oil (WCO) was carried out in a semi-batch reactor at 380 °C for a duration of 4 hours, with a catalyst loading set at 1% of the WCO’s weight. The LaNiCeO2-12.5% MCC catalyst exhibited exceptional deoxygenation activity, achieving a 100% conversion, a liquid product yield of 45%, and hydrocarbon selectivity of 98%. The excellent catalytic performance is due to the synergistic interaction between Ni, Ce, and La metals, combined with improved properties that promote the deoxygenation reaction. These results highlight the potential of LaNiCeO2 as an effective catalyst for biofuel production.