Biofuel Production from Waste Cooking Oil over Copper-Metal-Organic Framework/ Potassium Oxide Catalyst for Alternative Bioenergy

    This study investigated the synthesis and application of Cu-MOF/K2O catalysts for pyrolytic catalytic cracking (PCC) of waste cooking oil (WCO) to produce biofuels. Cu-MOF/K2O catalysts were synthesized via a facile temperature method by incorporating copper as the metal center and 2-methylimidazole as the organic ligand with varying K2O concentrations (3, 5, and 10 wt%), followed by thermal treatment at 500 oC. WCO was reacted under atmospheric pressure with N2 gas at various temperatures to produce an oil-liquid product (OLP). Characterization by FT-IR and XRD confirmed the decomposition of Cu-MOF into CuO and Cu2O, while XRF revealed the increase in K2O concentration in Cu-MOF/K2O as a result of varying the base. SEM imaging demonstrated a uniform particle size distribution in Cu-MOF/K2O, while the BET surface area analysis indicated a reduction in the surface area due to K2O incorporation. The NH3 and CO2-TPD confirmed the coexistence of several types of acidic and basic sites in the catalyst. GC-MS analysis of OLP revealed a significant enhancement in hydrocarbon content following PCC, with Cu-MOF/10-K2O achieving a maximum hydrocarbon yield exceeding >99.9% at 400 °C, containing 53% biogasoline, 29% biokerosene, and 18% green diesel, indicating high selectivity toward transportation-range fuels. This study highlights the potential of a cost-effective catalyst, Cu-MOF/K2O, in advancing sustainable biofuel production, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting environmental sustainability.

Biofuel; Cu-MOF/K2O; Deoxygenation; Pyrolytic catalysis cracking; Waste cooking oil

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