(130f) Distorted Rutile Oxides As Potential Catalysts for Catalytic Partial Oxidation of Biodiesel

Recently, the generation of synthesis gas by catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) from renewable liquid fuels for solid oxide fuel cell applications has been the target of different studies but in the case of biodiesel, the available literature is still limited. Typically, noble metals or Ni based catalysts are employed for the CPO as the active species but they present some drawbacks such as high economic cost or carbon deposition respectively. Therefore, here we report the genuine capability of different distorted rutile structure oxide catalysts to reform a model compound of biodiesel (C₁₉H₃₆O₂) facing the disadvantages previously mentioned. Our findings show that for an 0₂/C ratio between 0.5 and 0.7 and WHSV up to 10h^-1, these oxides exhibit high fuel conversion (above 80%), relatively good H₂ and CO yields, and lattice oxygen acting as a buffer that prevents coke formation. In addition, a systematic trend between the crystal chemistry of the distorted rutile oxides vs. their catalytic performance is also provided. Moreover, the limited thermodynamic stability of molybdenum dioxide is enhanced by the small addition of refractory oxides such as TiO_2, which allows for longer stability during CPO of the surrogate biodiesel.