Junifa Layla Sihombing, Ahmad Nasir Pulungan, Herlinawati Herlinawati, Tiara Ramadhani, Sella Naomi Br Sinaga, Salaisa Salaisa, Dika Fahreza, Muhammad Fatra Arganda Saragih
This study examines the efficacy of bifunctional biochar-based catalysts in the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of pyrolytic bio-oil from oil palm shells. Biochar was produced via pyrolysis and modified with Co-Mo and Ni-Mo to enhance catalytic effectiveness. Characterization revealed that activation increased the biochar's surface area significantly from 10.597 m²/g to 218.964 m2/g, although metal impregnation caused a slight reduction. The HDO process in a fixed-bed reactor showed optimal results at 300 °C, with varying liquid product yields for different catalysts. GC-MS analysis indicated a reduction in oxygenated compounds post-HDO, with specific catalysts achieving notable hydrocarbon formation and selectivity towards phenols. The upgraded bio-oil demonstrated enhanced physicochemical properties, making it more suitable as a biofuel. The study emphasizes the potential of biochar-supported bimetallic catalysts in bio-oil upgrading, highlighting the advantages of Co-Mo/A-Biochar and Ni-Mo/A-Biochar. These results illustrate the viability of palm shell waste in sustainable biofuel production, addressing environmental and energy concerns. © 2026 by SPC (Sami Publishing Company), Asian Journal of Green Chemistry, Reproduction is permitted for noncommercial purposes.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jl.Willem Iskandar Pasar V Medan Estate, Medan, 20221, Indonesia
