Vesihüdrogenatsioon

Vesihüdrogenatsioon, also known as hydrodeoxygenation (HDO), is a catalytic process used primarily in the petroleum refining industry to remove oxygen from organic compounds. This is achieved by reacting the oxygen-containing feedstock with hydrogen gas at elevated temperatures and pressures in the presence of a catalyst. The main goal of HDO is to convert oxygenated compounds into their corresponding hydrocarbons, effectively removing oxygen in the form of water.

This process is particularly important for upgrading bio-based feedstocks, such as vegetable oils and animal fats, which are rich in oxygenated molecules like fatty acids and triglycerides. When these bio-oils undergo HDO, the oxygen atoms are removed, leading to the formation of paraffins, olefins, and naphthenes, which are chemically similar to conventional petroleum-derived fuels. This conversion allows bio-oils to be blended with or directly used as transportation fuels like diesel and jet fuel.

Common catalysts used in HDO include noble metals (like platinum, palladium, ruthenium) and transition metals (like nickel, cobalt, molybdenum) often supported on materials such as alumina or silica. The choice of catalyst and reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, hydrogen flow rate) significantly influences the efficiency and selectivity of the process, determining the types of hydrocarbons produced and the extent of oxygen removal. HDO is a crucial step in the production of sustainable biofuels and the valorization of biomass resources.