Microwave-assisted catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose for phenol-rich bio-oil production. Issue 6 (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Wenliang; Wang, Min; Huang, Jiale; Tang, Ning; Dang, Zepan; Shi, Yujie; Zhaohe, Meihui
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Energy Institute. Volume 92:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 1997
• Page End: 2003
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Cellulose -- Phenol -- Microwave-assisted pyrolysis -- Catalytic pyrolysis -- HZSM-5; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Fuel -- Periodicals; 621.04205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2018.10.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9671

Abstract

Abstract: The microwave-assisted catalytic pyrolysis (MACP) of cellulose was carried out using modified HZSM-5 catalysts for bio-oil production. The catalysts of Fe/HZSM-5, Ni/HZSM-5 and Fe–Ni/HZSM-5 were developed and characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The bio-oil was characterized by the Fourier transform infrared analyzer (FTIR) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results showed that Fe/HZSM-5 enhanced the yields of bio-oil by 11.4% and decreased the coke by about 24% compared to HZSM-5 without modification. The saccharides in bio-oil disappeared and were totally converted into phenols and low molecular compounds with the catalysis of Fe–Ni/HZSM-5. Fe–Ni/HZSM-5 showed high selectivity of phenols (20.86%) in the bio-oil. It was a unique finding because usually phenols can only be obtained by the pyrolysis of lignin, not cellulose. The formation of phenols from MACP of cellulose was probably caused by the conversion of furans to aromatics in the pores of HZSM-5, and followed by further conversion of aromatics into phenols on the external surface of HZSM-5. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Phenol-rich bio-oil was obtained from microwave catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose. Fe/HZSM-5 enhanced the yields of bio-oil and decreased the coke. Fe–Ni/HZSM-5 showed high selectivity of phenols (20.86%) in the bio-oil. The formation mechanism of phenols from pyrolysis of cellulose was elucidated.