Catalysis of Organic..

Snåre et al. 425increase in the formation of C17 isomers and olefins was observed above 300°C(Table 4).ConclusionA novel method for production of paraffinic hydrocarbons, suitable as diesel fuel,from renewable resources was illustrated. The fatty acid ethyl ester, ethyl stearate,was successfully converted with high catalyst activity and high selectivity towardsformation of the desired product, heptadecane. Investigation of the impact of catalystreduction showed that the reduction pretreatment had a beneficial effect on theformation of desired diesel compound. The non-pretreated catalyst dehydrogenatedethyl stearate to ethyl oleate. The experiments at different reaction temperatures,depicted that conversion of ethyl stearate was strongly dependent on reactiontemperature with E act =69 kJ/mole, while product selectivities were almost constant.Complete conversion of ethyl stearate and very high selectivity towards desiredproduct (95%) were achieved at 360˚C.AcknowledgementsThis work is part of the activities at the Åbo Akademi Process Chemistry Centrewithin the Finnish Centre of Excellence Programme (2000-2011) by the Academy ofFinland.References1. B.K. Barnwal and M. P. Sharma, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,9, 363-378 (2005)2. M. Fangrui and A.H. Milford, Bioresource Technology, 70, 1-15 (1999)3. E. H. Pryde, Fatty Acids, American Oil Chemists’ Society, 2-14. (1979)4. J. V. Gerpen, Fuel Processing Technology, 86 1097-1107 (2005)5. N. Martini and S. Schell, Plant Oils as Fuels: Present State of Science andFuture Developments, Proceedings of the Symposium, Potsdam, Germany, 16-18. February, (1997), Berlin: Springer, 6. (1998)6. I. Kubičková, M. Snåre, P. Mäki-Arvela, K. Eränen and D.Yu. Murzin,Catalysis Today, 106 197-200 (2005).7. M.A. Aramendía, V. Boráo, Im. García, C. Jiménez, A. Marinas, J.M. Marinas,and F.J. Urbano, J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem. 151, 261-269. (2000)