Catalytic cracking of waste frying oil using Ni-Fe/activated zeolite catalyst as a source of renewable energy

Used cooking oil is quite abundant household waste, and is not feasible for food. The main components of oil are triglyceride compounds which have the potential as premium substitute fuels. Activated natural zeolites can be used as heterogeneous catalysts in cracking reaction of vegetable oil. Activation and impregnation of metals in natural zeolites can increase the ability of zeolites as catalysts in the reaction of cracking of used cooking oil. This study aims to prepare and characterize the active Ni-Fe/Zeolite catalyst and test the activity of Ni-Fe/active zeolite catalysts in used cooking oil catalytic cracking. The stages of this research are (1) preparation and characterization of active Ni-Fe/Zeolite catalysts by activation and adsorption of Ni and Fe metals in active zeolites (ZAk) so that they are called Ni-Fe55/ZAk, Ni-Fe57/ZAk and Ni-Fe75 catalysts/ZAk, (2) Test the activity of Ni-Fe/ZAk catalyst on catalytic cracking of used cooking oil and identification and characterization of cracking products. The results showed that the Ni-Fe/ZAk catalyst in the form of reddish granules was 30-50 mesh in size, with the character of the face area for Ni-Fe55/ZAk, Ni-Fe57/ZAk and Ni-Fe75/ZAk catalyst respectively for the surface area was 157.900-143.823 m²/g, the pore radius is 12.197-12.244 Å, the total pore volume is 0,096-0,088 cc/g and the Si/Al ratio is 5.985-6.162. Used cooking oil can be pierced with NiFe55 ZAk catalyst at a temperature of 450°C, the yield is 31.3%. The main components of cracking are tridecane, 1-tridecene, tetradekana, 1-heptadecene, octane, nonane, 3-hexadecene, heptadecane, 8-heptadecene and heptadecane.