Hydrogenation of sunflower oil using composites of nickel with activated carbon as catalysts
Abstract
The search for alternative fuels is an urgent task for Ukraine due to high prices for petroleum products and dependency on foreign suppliers. Biodiesel is a promising candidate for diesel fuel substitution, a blend of methyl esters of fatty acids enriched with methyl cisoleate. Typically derived from the hydrogenation of hydrolyzed vegetable oil products, biodiesel production holds significant promise for Ukraine, given its status as the world's leading producer of sunflower oil. However, the hydrogenation reactions require either precious metals catalysts or a substantial excess of sponge-like Raney nickel, thereby reducing atom economy of the process.
