Environmental friendly lubricants through selective hydrogenation of rapeseed oil over supported copper catalysts

Different supported copper catalysts are compared in the selective hydrogenation of vegetableoils and their methylesters. The influence of parameters such as the catalysts preparation method, the support used and the activation treatnment are evaluated in terms pf catalytic activity and selectivity. All ex-situ reducedcatalysts prepared by the chemisorption-hydrolysis method show better performances than the ones prepared by incipient wetness technique. These data are directly matched up to the different morphology of the supported copper particles obtained by these two methods. By using a 8% Cu/SiO2 catalyst the trienic component C18:3 can be eliminated and the dienic one lowered from 22 to 3-5% without increasing the stearic acid content and limiting the cis/trans isomerization process. These oils, with a C18:1 (oleic acid) content up to 88% show remarkable oxidation stability and keepfluid down to -15°C.