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DOE OSTI2023

Techno-Economic Analysis of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell-Gas Turbine Hybrid Systems for Stationary Power Applications Using Renewable Hydrogen

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)–gas turbine (GT) hybrid systems can produce power at high electrical efficiencies while emitting virtually zero criteria pollutants (e.g., ozone, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, and particulate matters). This study presents new insights into renewable hydrogen (RH 2 )-powered SOFC–GT hybrid systems with respect to their system configuration and techno-economic analysis motivated by the need for clean on-demand power. First, three system configurations are thermodynamically assessed: (I) a reference case with no SOFC off-gas recirculation, (II) a case with cathode off-gas recirculation, and (III) a case with anode off-gas recirculation. While these configurations have been studied in isolation, here we provide a detailed performance comparison. Moreover, a techno-economic analysis is conducted to study the economic competitiveness of RH 2 -fueled hybrid systems and the economies of scale by offering a comparison to natural gas (NG)-fueled systems. Results show that the case with anode off-gas recirculation, with 68.50%-lower heating value (LHV) at a 10 MW scale, has the highest efficiency among the studied scenarios. When moving from 10 MW to 50 MW, the efficiency increases to 70.22%-LHV. These high efficiency values make SOFC–GT hybrid systems highly attractive in the context of a circular economy as they outcompete most other power generation technologies. The cost-of-electricity (COE) is reduced by about 10% when moving from 10 MW to 50 MW, from USD 1976/kW to USD 1668/kW, respectively. Renewable H 2 is expected to be economically competitive with NG by 2030, when the U.S. Department of Energy’s target of USD 1/kg RH 2 is reached.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2022

H2@Scale Program Multi-Party Cooperative Research and Development Agreement: California Hydrogen Infrastructure Research Consortium Task (Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-18-00754)

Many stakeholders are working on hydrogen and fuel cell products, markets, requirements, mandates, and policies. California has been leading the way for hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) deployment. This leadership has advanced a hydrogen network that is not duplicated anywhere in the United States and is unique in the world for its focus on providing a retail fueling experience. In addition, the advancements have identified many lessons learned for hydrogen infrastructure development, deployment, and operation. Other interested states and countries are using California's experience as a model case, making success in California paramount to enabling market acceleration and uptake in the United States. The technical research capability of the national laboratories can be used to assist California in decisions and evaluations, as well as to verify solutions to problems impacting the industry. Because these challenges cannot be addressed by one agency or one laboratory, a hydrogen research consortium has been organized to combine and collaborate. The collaboration aims to ensure that data are available to evaluate projects and inform decision makers, independently verify and validate component solutions, provide experimental results for future hydrogen infrastructure, increase the availability of technical experts for quick-need issues for California hydrogen infrastructure development, deployment, operation, and technology advances. The proposed tasks include data collection from operational stations, component failure fix verification (i.e. nozzle freeze lock), new fueling methods for medium and heavy duty applications, and ensuring hydrogen quality is maintained. U.S. leadership for hydrogen technologies is rooted in California, a location for implementing many H2@Scale pathways such as reducing curtailment and stranded resources, reducing petroleum use and emissions, and developing and creating jobs.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2023

Hydrogen Plus Other Alternative Fuels Risk Assessment Models (HyRAM+) Version 5.1 Technical Reference Manual

The HyRAM+ software toolkit provides a basis for conducting quantitative risk assessment and consequence modeling for hydrogen, natural gas, and autogas systems. HyRAM+ is designed to facilitate the use of state-of-the-art models to conduct robust, repeatable assessments of safety, hazards, and risk. HyRAM+ integrates deterministic and probabilistic models for quantifying leak sizes and rates, predicting physical effects, characterizing hazards (thermal effects from jet fires, overpressure effects from delayed ignition), and assessing impacts on people. HyRAM+ is developed at Sandia National Laboratories to support the development and revision of national and international codes and standards, and to provide developed models in a publicly-accessible toolkit usable by all stakeholders. This document provides a description of the methodology and models contained in HyRAM+ version 5.1. The most significant changes for HyRAM+ version 5.1 from HyRAM+ version 5.0 are updated default leak frequency values for propane, new default component counts for different fuel types, and an improved fuel specification view in the graphical user interface.

02 PETROLEUM↗

DOE OSTI2021

Hydrogen Plus Other Alternative Fuels Risk Assessment Models (HyRAM+) (Technical Reference Manual V.4)

The HyRAM+ software toolkit provides a basis for conducting quantitative risk assessment and consequence modeling for hydrogen, methane, and propane infrastructure and transportation systems. HyRAM+ is designed to facilitate the use of state-of-the-art science and engineering models to conduct robust, repeatable assessments of safety, hazards, and risk. HyRAM+ includes generic probabilities for equipment failures, probabilistic models for the impact of heat flux on humans and structures, and experimentally validated first-order models of release and flame physics. HyRAM+ integrates deterministic and probabilistic models for quantifying accident scenarios, predicting physical effects, and characterizing hazards (thermal effects from jet fires, overpressure effects from delayed ignition), and assessing impact on people and structures. HyRAM+ is developed at Sandia National Laboratories to support the development and revision of national and international codes and standards. HyRAM+ is a research software in active development and thus the models and data may change. This report will be updated at appropriate developmental intervals. This document provides a description of the methodology and models contained in HyRAM+ version 4.0. The most significant change for HyRAM+ version 4.0 from HyRAM version 3.1 is the incorporation of other alternative fuels, namely methane (as a proxy for natural gas) and propane into the toolkit. This change necessitated significant changes to the installable graphical user interface as well as changes to the back-end Python models. A second major change is the inclusion of physics models for the overpressure associated with the delayed ignition of an unconfined jet/plume of flammable gas.

02 PETROLEUM↗

DOE OSTI2024

Performance Testing of a Moving-Bed Gasifier Using Coal, Biomass, and Waste Plastic Blends with Washed and Unwashed Legacy Coals and Other Waste Fuels to Generate White Hydrogen

The objective of this effort, primarily funded by the United States Department of Energy (DOE), and led by the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), with support by Hamilton Maurer International (HMI) and Sotacarbo S.p.A. (Sotacarbo), has been to qualify coal, biomass, and plastic waste blends based on performance testing of selected fuel pellet compositions in a pilot-scale updraft moving-bed (UDMB) gasifier. The testing provided relevant data to advance the commercial-scale design of the moving-bed gasifier to be able to successfully use these feedstocks to produce hydrogen. In particular, the effects of waste plastics on feedstock development (i.e., blending and pelletizing) and the resulting products (i.e., syngas compositions, organic condensate production, and ash characteristics) are the focus. The gasifier used for testing is HMI’s moving-bed gasifier, which has been proven capable of gasifying nearly all coal ranks. It has also shown the ability in prior testing work to gasify wood chips (biomass). However, mixtures of these fuels with plastic wastes have not been prepared and gasified together. The three feedstocks were densified and pelletized by California Pellet Mill (CPM) to meet the feedstock size required by Sotacarbo’s 30mm ID UDMB gasifier, under contract to HMI. The technical tasks and results from this two-year research project included: (1) Feed Procurement and Preparation: Nine different tri-fuel pellets were prepared from varying compositions of fresh mined PRB coal, corn stover biomass, and car fluff waste plastics. Tri-fuel pellets were produced by CPM and shipped to Sotacarbo’s test facility in Carbonia, Sardinia, Italy. (2) Test Plan Development: A test plan was created to define the test runs to be performed. The test plan detailed the different UDMB gasification tests to be performed in Sotacarbo’s 12-inch ID pilot scale gasifier, the process monitoring instrumentation used, and the extractive samples recovered for analysis of the total gasification process mass and energy balance. (3) Gasifier Testing: Nine different gasification runs were performed in the pilot-scale gasifier at Sotacarbo using nine different fuel feedstock compositions generated from varying mixtures of PRB coal, biomass, and plastic wastes. The testing generated performance data on gasification reaction efficiency and performance, yielding relevant data for models used to scale up the gasifier design. This task also included work to refurbish and reassemble the pilot gasifier at Sotacarbo and perform a baseline 100% PRB coal run. (4) Data Analysis and Reporting: Review of the data, determination of figures of merit, and interpretation of the results are reported in the project’s final report, published in March 2024. The results show that all tri-fuel pellets gasified well and maintained structural integrity throughout the gasification process. The syngas generated can be shifted to hydrogen by using commercial syngas shifting technologies. (5) High Fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Simulation: The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) team performed CFD simulations of the UDMB gasifier for two of the tri-fuel pellets gasified in Sotacarbo’s pilot scale gasifier. The kinetic mechanisms for the pyrolysis of each constituent, PRB coal, corn stover biomass, and waste plastics are based on thermogravimetric analysis performed by Sotacarbo. The gasification model was validated by comparing the predicted syngas composition at the exit of the gasifier with the measured syngas composition. In addition, the reactor’s measured internal temperature profile agreed well with the predicted internal reactor temperature profile. These results validate that the model can be used to predict the performance of the updraft moving bed gasifier for different feedstocks and operating conditions. This paper summarizes the results of the completed work in which the pelletizing procedure was validated to ensure the viability of the tri-fuel pellets for the gasification runs performed at Sotacarbo’s 30 mm UDMB gasifier. The gasification performance data from this series of nine runs will enable modeling of a full-scale HMI industrial scale gasifier supporting both combined heat and power, and Hydrogen production from coal (both fresh mined and legacy) combined with various biomass and waste plastics. Additionally, plans and progress on a follow-up project, being executed by the same project team, will be presented. In this project, a total of twenty (20) different feedstocks are being prepared from varying compositions of biomass (both woody biomass and corn stover) with a mixture of legacy coal waste, plastic waste, and refuse-derived fuel (RDF). The testing will provide information on gasification reaction efficiency/performance, yielding relevant data for models used to scale up the gasifier design to 50 megawatt electric (MWe) (equivalent hydrogen production). Tests will also be performed on a bench-scale fluidized-bed gasifier for comparison purposes. The results of this testing will be used to specify the range of feedstock blends that can be successfully gasified as well as quantify gasifier outputs based on specific blends.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2025

Physical model and experimental validation of a high temperature proton exchange membrane electrochemical hydrogen pump cell for efficient single-stage extraction of low concentration hydrogen gas

There is interest in valorization of existing natural gas infrastructure to facilitate the co-transportation of hydrogen via blending of hydrogen gas initially at limited concentrations of 1–20 vol% H2 and to subsequently extract hydrogen at fuel cell quality standards (SAE J2719/ISO14687-2). High temperature proton exchange membrane electrochemical hydrogen pump (HT-PEM EHP) based on phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole (PA-PBI) exhibits good performance at elevated temperatures (>120 °C), which provides desirable tolerance to non-methane natural gas constituents that are problematic for lower temperature based EHP. To better understand the suitability of the HT-PEM EHP for such gas separation processes, a two-dimensional model of EHP based on PA-PBI was developed. The model is validated for several relevant operating conditions and across cells with differing amounts of phosphoric acid content in the electrodes. Operando micro x-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging of an HT-PEM EHP was used to further validate physical parameters and assumptions of the model. The impacts of pressure, relative humidity of the anode feed, and concentration of feed gases on separation performance are investigated. This study shows that a specific energy of separation of 5.1 kWh/kg H2 at a hydrogen recovery factor (HRF) of 50 vol% can be achieved in a single stage with the EHP, producing fuel cell quality hydrogen purity of 99.99 vol% H2 from a 2 vol% H2/CH4 feed blend, while pressurizing the product H2 at a pressure ratio of 1.3 relative to feed pressure.

Stansberry, John M↗

DOE OSTI2023

Clean Hydrogen: Energy Carrier, Renewables Enabler, and Sector Coupler to Accelerate the Energy Transition and Meet Climate Goals

Comprehensive, concerted efforts supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) are advancing research and development to demonstrate clean hydrogen production and industrial decarbonization pathways. These pathways enable an economically competitive and environmentally beneficial future energy system across sectors and can address specific applications that are difficult to decarbonize. Initiatives include the Hydrogen Energy Earthshot, H2@Scale, National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, H2NEW: Hydrogen from Next-generation Electrolyzers of Water Consortium, HydroGEN: Advanced Water Splitting Materials Consortium, BioH2 Consortium, HyMARC Hydrogen Materials Advanced Research Consortium, and M2FCT: Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck Consortium.

clean hydrogen↗

DOE OSTI2020

Department of Energy Hydrogen Program Plan

The DOE Hydrogen Program Plan provides a strategic view of how the Department conducts and coordinates hydrogen research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities under the DOE Hydrogen Program. With participation from the Offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Energy, Electricity, Science, and ARPA-E, the DOE Hydrogen Program is a coordinated Departmental effort to advance the affordable production, transport, storage, and use of carbon-neutral hydrogen across different sectors of the economy. This version of the Plan updates and expands upon previous versions, including the Hydrogen Posture Plan and the DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Plan, and provides a coordinated high-level summary of hydrogen-related activities across DOE.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2020

Feasibility Study of Replacing the R/V Robert Gordon Sproul with a Hybrid Vessel Employing Zero-emission Propulsion Technology

This project is a natural "follow-on" to the 2017 MARAD-funded project establishing the technical, regulatory, and economic feasibilities of a zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell coastal research vessel named the Zero-V. In this follow-on project, we examine the applicability of hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion technology for a different kind of vessel, namely a smaller coastal/local research vessel targeted as a replacement for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) R/V Robert Gordon Sproul, which is approaching the end of its service life.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2024

In-situ dehydrogenation of lignin-based jet fuel: A novel and sustainable liquid organic hydrogen carrier

A new and sustainable liquid organic hydrogen carrier, Lignin Jet Fuel-based Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LJF-HyC), has been discovered. This innovative LOHC is created from Lignin Jet Fuel (LJF) through dehydrogenation reactions. The process was carried out in situ using platinum nanoparticles supported on zeolite, resulting in a significant increase in aromatic carbon content. This increase indicates the successful formation of aromatic rings via C–H dissociation. In-situ Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and gas chromatographic analyses revealed the formation of unsaturated and partially unsaturated compounds, including alkylbenzenes, tetralins, naphthalenes with double bond equivalence of 4–8, from six apparent reaction pathways, four of which can be major. The original LJF, consisting primarily of mono-, di-, and tricyclohexylalkanes (96 wt%), was converted to dehydrogenated products, constituting approximately 18.5 wt% of the LJF composition. These findings pave the way for developing sustainable hydrogen carriers derived from sustainable aviation fuels.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2023

Gold Nanoparticles AuNP Decorated on Fused Graphene-like Materials for Application in a Hydrogen Generation

The search for a sustainable, alternative fuel source to replace fossil fuels has led to an increased interest in hydrogen fuel. This combustible gas is not only clean-burning but can readily be produced via the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride. The main drawback of this reaction is that the reaction occurs relatively slowly and requires a catalyst to improve efficiency. This study explored a novel composite material made by combining gold nanoparticles and fused graphene-like materials (AuFGLM) as a catalyst for generating hydrogen via sodium borohydride. The novel fused graphene-like material (FGLM) was made with a sustainable dextrose solution and by using a pressure-processing method. Imaging techniques showed that FGLM appears to be an effective support template for nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize and determine the size, shape, and structure of nanoparticles and composites. The TEM study characterized the fused carbon backbone as it began to take on a rounder shape. The TEM images also revealed that the average diameter of the gold nanoparticle was roughly 23 nm. The FTIR study confirmed O-H, C-C, and C=O as functional groups in the materials. The EDS analysis showed that the composite contained approximately 6.3% gold by weight. The crystal structures of FGLM and AuFGLM were identified via P-XRD analysis. Various reaction conditions were used to test the catalytic ability of AuFGLM, including various solution pHs, temperatures, and doses of NaBH 4 . It was observed that optimal reaction conditions included high temperature, an acidic solution pH, and a higher dose of NaBH 4 . The activation energy of the reaction was determined to be 45.5 kJ mol -1 , and it was found that the catalyst could be used multiple times in a row with an increased volume of hydrogen produced in ensuing trials. The activation energy of this novel catalyst is competitive compared to similar catalysts and its ability to produce hydrogen over multiple uses makes the material an exciting choice for catalyzing the hydrolysis of NaBH 4 for use as a hydrogen fuel source.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2020

P-block single-metal-site tin/nitrogen-doped carbon fuel cell cathode catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

This contribution reports the discovery and analysis of a p-block Sn-based catalyst for the electroreduction of molecular oxygen in acidic conditions at fuel cell cathodes; the catalyst is free of platinum-group metals and contains single-metal-atom actives sites coordinated by nitrogen. The prepared SnNC catalysts meet and exceed state-of-the-art FeNC catalysts in terms of intrinsic catalytic turn-over frequency and hydrogen–air fuel cell power density. The SnNC-NH 3 catalysts displayed a 40–50% higher current density than FeNC-NH 3 at cell voltages below 0.7 V. Additional benefits include a highly favourable selectivity for the four-electron reduction pathway and a Fenton-inactive character of Sn. Here, a range of analytical techniques combined with density functional theory calculations indicate that stannic Sn(iv)Nx single-metal sites with moderate oxygen chemisorption properties and low pyridinic N coordination numbers act as catalytically active moieties. The superior proton-exchange membrane fuel cell performance of SnNC cathode catalysts under realistic, hydrogen–air fuel cell conditions, particularly after NH 3 activation treatment, makes them a promising alternative to today’s state-of-the-art Fe-based catalysts.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Maximizing long-term biohydrogen production with Clostridium thermocellum for high solids conversion of lignocellulosic biomass

Biological hydrogen production from lignocellulosic biomass sustainably couples organic waste reduction with renewable energy generation. Efficient conversion is challenged by the structural complexity of lignocellulose and resulting recalcitrance to enzymatic degradation. Clostridium thermocellum natively breaks down biomass with highly effective hemi-/cellulases systems (i.e., cellulosomes) and generates hydrogen in anaerobic cultivation, creating a compelling platform for lignocellulosic biohydrogen production. Achieving commercially viable production rates requires balancing high biomass loading and throughput against uniform mixing conditions required for enzyme dispersion, pH and temperature control, and efficient hydrogen and metabolite removal in continuous operation. To address these barriers to process intensification, we implemented novel reactor and process designs for high-solids lignocellulosic biomass fermentations using the C. thermocellum KJC19-9 strain, genetically engineered for co-utilization of cellulose and hemicellulose sugars (i.e., xylose). Via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and experimental validation, we achieved a >50% improvement in biohydrogen production with an improved anchor-type impeller morphology, coupled to a threefold reduction in agitation rate. To further reduce rheological constraints and accumulation of toxic metabolites, we then transitioned the process to sequencing fed-batch operation. The resulting process generated 24.87 L H 2 L −1 from 160 g L −1 of deacetylated and mechanically refined (DMR)-pretreated corn stover biomass over 16 days while solubilizing >95% of influent cellulose and hemicellulose, setting a new performance benchmark for continuous production of biohydrogen from lignocellulose.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2022

U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen Program: 2021 Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Report; June 7-11, 2021

This document summarizes peer review comments and scores for the fiscal year 2021 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Program Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting (AMR), held virtually June 7-11, 2021. In response to direction from various stakeholders, including the National Academies, this review process provides project- and program-level evaluations of DOE-funded research, development, demonstration, and analysis of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

AMR↗

DOE OSTI2022

Performance and Total Cost of Ownership of a Fuel Cell Hybrid Mining Truck

The main objective of this work was to investigate the potential of hydrogen and fuel cells replacing diesel and internal combustion engines in the ultraclass haul trucks deployed in the mining sector. Performance, range, durability, and cost are the main criteria considered for comparing the two fuels and engine options. Fuel cell system (FCS) performance is characterized in terms of heat rejection, efficiency, and fuel consumption for a hybrid platform equivalent to a 3500 hp diesel engine operating on a representative open pit mining duty cycle. A hybrid platform was chosen because the heat rejection, with a constrained radiator frontal area, limits the maximum fuel cell-rated power by about 50% compared to that of the diesel truck. The hybrid powertrain was 81–88% more efficient than the diesel powertrain on the truck duty cycle. A liquid hydrogen storage system is required for an equal range or time between refilling, but the packaging remains a challenge. Fuel cell and battery durability were evaluated for their performance degradation and lifetime. Achieving a fuel cell lifetime comparable to the time between major overhauls for diesel trucks necessitates the oversizing of the membrane-active area, catalyst overloading, and voltage clipping. For an equal lifetime, the battery must be oversized to control its depth of discharge and charge/discharge rates. A total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis considering the initial capital expenditures, as well as the lifetime cost of fuel, operation, and maintenance, indicates that fuel cells and hydrogen can compete with diesel. A breakeven fuel cost for TCO parity is obtained if H2 is available at USD 5.79–6.85/kg vs. diesel at USD 3.25/gal and the FCS-specific cost is USD 323/kW e relative to USD 250/kW for a diesel genset. Volume manufacturing is required for FCS cost reduction. High volume is possible through the standardization, modularity, and proliferation of class 8 long-haul truck systems across different heavy-duty applications.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Hydrogen Consortium: Technical Progress on Renewable Hydrogen Production R&D

HydroGEN (https://www.h2awsm.org/) Energy Materials Network (EMN) is an U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) EERE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)-funded consortium that aims to accelerate the discovery and development of advanced water splitting materials (AWSM) for clean, low-cost hydrogen production. This is in line with the H2@Scale initiative (https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/h2-scale), with the goal to meet U.S. DOE's Hydrogen Shot production cost target of $1/kg H2 within 1 decade. Materials innovations are key to enhancing performance, durability, and cost of hydrogen generation technologies. Large scale, low cost hydrogen from diverse domestic resources can enable an economically competitive and environmentally beneficial future energy system across multiple sectors. HydroGEN is focused on low technology readiness level AWS technologies, including low- (alkaline exchanged membrane electrolysis) and high-temperature electrolysis (proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis), photoelectrochecmical (PEC) and solar thermochemical (STCH) water splitting. This presentation will provide an overview of the HydroGEN EMN and technical highlights of a few lab-led and FOA-awarded R&D projects. HydroGEN continues to grow its community of industry, university, and national laboratories, forming a national innovation ecosystem focused on renewable hydrogen production.

clean hydrogen↗

DOE OSTI2024

HydroGEN Overview: A Consortium on Advanced Water Splitting Materials

clean hydrogen↗

DOE OSTI2025

Palm oil deoxygenation with glycerol as a hydrogen donor for renewable fuel production using nickel-molybdenum catalysts: The effect of support

Palm oil, one of the most widely used vegetable oils, offers significant potential as a sustainable feedstock for biofuel production. This study explores the deoxygenation of palm oil using glycerol as a hydrogen donor, with nickel-molybdenum (NiMo) catalysts supported on commercial alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), and zeolite (HZSM-5) comparing with self-prepared zirconia (ZrO 2 ). The catalysts were synthesized via incipient wetness impregnation and evaluated for their performance in biofuel production. NiMo/Al 2 O 3 exhibited the lowest oxygen removal efficiency (68.5 %), while NiMo/HZSM-5 achieved a higher oxygen removal (74.3 %) but also demonstrated the highest coke formation. The type of support material influenced the resulting biofuel range, with NiMo/HZSM-5 and NiMo/ZrO 2 favoring jet fuel production, whereas NiMo/Al 2 O 3 was more suitable for diesel production. Notably, NiMo/ZrO 2 exhibited the highest performance in palm oil deoxygenation while minimizing coke formation. These findings highlight NiMo/ZrO 2 as a promising catalyst for efficient and stable biofuel production, with the support material significantly influencing product yield and fuel quality.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗