Highly efficient conversion of fatty acids into fatty alcohols with a Zn over Ni catalyst in water

Abstract

A new route to convert fatty acids into fatty alcohols under hydrothermal conditions with a Zn reductant over an Ni catalyst is presented. The highest yield of fatty alcohols from fatty acids (81.4%) was achieved at 300 °C for 2 h with a water filling of 40%. The Zn and Ni used in this research were both commercially available powders, and thus this process provides a highly efficient and simple method for reducing fatty acids into fatty alcohols.