Fast Catalytic Pyrolysis of Tetradecanoic Acid: Formation of Ketones as Intermediate Compounds in the Production of Hydrocarbons

This work aimed to compare two different catalysts in the production of a long chain ketone, intermediate in the production of hydrocarbons, during pyrolysis of tetradecanoic acid as a model fatty acid. The studied variables were the temperature, 450 and 600 ºC, and catalysts, γ-Al2O3 and Nb2O5, the latter has never been studied under such conditions. Pyrolysis experiments were performed in a micro-pyrolyzer coupled to a gas chromatograph with mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS). In all pyrolysis conditions, 14-heptacosanone was formed in varied amounts. Under the best conditions, for pyrolysis at 600 ºC, using γ-Al2O3 as catalyst, the yield of 14-heptacosanone was 18% and the yield of hydrocarbons 24%. The major hydrocarbon product obtained was 1-dodecene. Among the partially deoxygenated compounds, the main products were the ketones 14-heptacosanone and 2-pentadecanone. The present experimental work confirmed also the possibility to obtain hydrocarbons having a chain length longer than the chain length of the original fatty acid reagent, due to a ketonization route followed by decarbonylation.