Pyrolysis of palm oil using zeolite catalyst and characterization of the boil-oil

Pyrolysis of palm oil is one of the most potential methods to obtain bio-oil. In this study, pyrolysis of palm oil was carried out by using zeolites as a catalyst. The use of HCl and NaOH as activating agents of the zeolites prior to its use in the pyrolysis process was investigated. The result showed that a 1 M concentration of either HCl or NaOH gave an optimum result when the zeolites were used to absorb methylene blue. When 1 M of HCl was used as the activating agent, a more uniform pore size of the zeolites was obtained, along with a more opened pore structure. A GC-MS analysis showed that by using zeolites which was activated using HCl or NaOH, the pyrolysis of palm oil yielded bio-oil with a high content of organic compounds.