PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The increasing global demand for fossil fuels and their negative environmental impact have spurred considerable interest in developing renewable fuel sources. Biodiesel, derived from vegetable oils and animal fats, shows great promise as an alternative fuel due to its similar combustion characteristics to fossil fuels. However, the high oxygen content of biodiesel leads to technical challenges in engines. To address this, catalytic deoxygenation has been developed to convert the fatty acids in vegetable oils into second-generation liquid hydrocarbons. This process offers a viable method for the transportation industry to produce biofuels from renewable feedstocks. Palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt) are commonly used deoxygenation catalysts, known for their excellent performance, but their high cost limits their use in large-scale industrial applications. Nickel (Ni), a non-noble metal, has emerged as a more cost-effective alternative, demonstrating significant catalytic activity for deoxygenation. This review explores the latest advances in the use of Ni catalysts for the deoxygenation of triglycerides and fatty acids. Key focus areas include the deoxygenation process, the role of Ni catalysts, and recent innovations in combining Ni with auxiliary materials to enhance performance. Additionally, the review examines how catalyst loading impacts the deoxygenation efficiency of triglycerides and fatty acids. This study provides crucial insights into the performance of Ni catalysts with different supports, offering a solid foundation for future research into biofuel production using Ni-based catalytic systems.