SYNTHESIS OF MESOPOROUS SILICA-ALUMINA FROM LAPINDO MUD AS A SUPPORT OF Ni AND Mo METALS CATALYSTS FOR HYDROCRACKING OF PYROLYZED α- CELLULOSE

Synthesis of mesoporous silica-alumina (MSA) as a support of Ni, Mo, NiMo, and MoNi catalysts for hydrocracking of pyrolyzed α-cellulose had been carried out. The MSA was synthesized using SiO2 and Al2O3 from Lapindo mud and catfish bone gelatin as a template by hydrothermal method. The MSA was characterized by FTIR, XRD, AAS, SAA and TEM. The acidity value of MSA was determined gravimetrically by pyridine vapor adsorption. The liquid products obtained from hydrocracking of pyrolyzed α-cellulose were analyzed by GC-MS. The result shows that the MSA had Si/Al ratio, BET specific surface area, acidity value, BJH desorption pore diameter and pore volume of 5.65, 212.29 m/g, 13.56 mmol/g, 20.05 nm and 1.29 cm/g, respectively. The highest conversion of liquid product was obtained in hydrocracking of pyrolyzed α-cellulose using the NiMo/MSA and MoNi/MSA catalysts. The NiMo/MSA and MoNi/MSA catalysts produced a liquid fraction of 85.51 wt.% and 85.29 wt.%, respectively.