W-modified unsupported MoNiP catalysts synergistically enhancing palm oil hydrodeoxygenation-isomerization to low-freezing-point biofuels

The increasing demand for sustainable biofuels has driven the development of efficient catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and isomerization of bio-oils. This study investigates the performance of a W-modified unsupported MoNiP catalyst for the hydroisomerization of palm oil to produce low-freezing-point biofuels. The MoNiP-W catalyst was synthesized via a one-pot method and characterized using XRD, BET, XPS, H 2 -TPR, NH 3 -TPD, Py-IR, and TEM-Mapping. Under optimized reaction conditions (360 °C, 3 MPa H 2 pressure, 3 h −1 LHSV, and 300:1 H 2 /oil ratio), the catalyst achieved 100 % palm oil conversion and a C 5 -C 20 isoparaffin selectivity of 70.6 %. A 240-hour stability test revealed that the catalyst maintained a stable isomerization rate of approximately 60 % without significant deactivation. These results demonstrate the potential of W-modified unsupported MoNiP catalysts for the cost-effective and sustainable production of low-freezing-point biofuels. The enhanced activity is attributed to the synergistic effect between Mo, Ni, P, and W, which optimizes the catalyst’s acidity and promotes hydroisomerization reactions.