Synthesis of cobalt-dispersed sulfated zirconia nanocatalyst for the hydroconversion of used palm cooking oil into bio-jet fuel

In the past decade, rising demand for air travel has resulted in increased carbon emissions, stimulating research into bio-jet fuel as an eco-friendly aviation alternative. This study examines the synthesis and application of cobalt-dispersed sulfated zirconia nanocatalysts for the hydroconversion of used palm cooking oil into bio-jet fuel under atmospheric conditions. The catalysts were synthesized using the wet impregnation method with varying cobalt loadings (1 %, 3 %, and 5 %) and characterized by FTIR, XRD, NH₃-TPD, SAA, XRF, SEM-EDX Mapping, TEM-SAED, and XPS analyses. Hydroconversion with the Co-3/SZ catalyst yielded a 63.03 wt% liquid product, with 92.28 % bio-jet fuel selectivity and a yield of 58.17 wt%. Reusability tests for six consecutive runs further indicated that this catalyst maintained a bio-jet fuel selectivity of 56.94 % and a yield of 28.43 %, underscoring its potential as a promising candidate for bio-jet fuel production.