Tailoring ZSM‐5 Zeolites for the Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass to Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Issue 12 (11th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hoff, Thomas C.; Gardner, David W.; Thilakaratne, Rajeeva; Wang, Kaige; Hansen, Thomas W.; Brown, Robert C.; Tessonnier, Jean‐Philippe
• Is Part Of: ChemSusChem. Volume 9:Issue 12(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 1473
• Page End: 1482
• Publication Date: 2016-05-11
• Subjects: aluminum -- biomass -- heterogeneous catalysis -- structure–activity relationships -- zeolites; Green chemistry -- Periodicals; Sustainable engineering -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201600186
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-5631

Abstract

Abstract: The production of aromatic hydrocarbons from cellulose by zeolite‐catalyzed fast pyrolysis involves a complex reaction network sensitive to the zeolite structure, crystallinity, elemental composition, porosity, and acidity. The interplay of these parameters under the reaction conditions represents a major roadblock that has hampered significant improvement in catalyst design for over a decade. Here, we studied commercial and laboratory‐synthesized ZSM‐5 zeolites and combined data from 10 complementary characterization techniques in an attempt to identify parameters common to high‐performance catalysts. Crystallinity and framework aluminum site accessibility were found to be critical to achieve high aromatic yields. These findings enabled us to synthesize a ZSM‐5 catalyst with enhanced activity, which offers the highest aromatic hydrocarbon yield reported to date. Abstract : Playing nice : The interplay of zeolite structural characteristics is studied to identify parameters common to high‐performance catalysts in catalytic fast pyrolysis. Crystallinity and accessibility to framework Al atoms is critical to achieve high aromatic yields. These findings allow us to synthesize a ZSM‐5 catalyst with enhanced catalytic properties, which offers the highest aromatic hydrocarbon yield reported to date.