Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to green fuel oil over sodium based catalysts.

Upgrading of biomass pyrolysis vapors over 20 wt.% Na2CO3/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was studied in a lab-scale fix-bed reactor at 500°C. Characterization of the catalyst using SEM and XRD has shown that sodium carbonate is well-dispersed on the support γ-Al2O3. TGA and (23)Na MAS NMR suggested the formation of new hydrated sodium phase, which is likely responsible for the high activity of the catalyst. Catalytic oil has much lower oxygen content (12.3 wt.%) compared to non-catalytic oil (42.1 wt.%). This comes together with a tremendous increase in the energy density (37 compared to 19 MJ kg(-1)). Decarboxylation of carboxylic acids was favoured on the catalyst, resulting to an oil almost neutral (TAN=3.8mg KOH/g oil and pH=6.5). However, the mentioned decarboxylation resulted in the formation of carbonyls, which correlates to low stability of the oil. Catalytic pyrolysis results in a bio-oil which resembles a fossil fuel oil in its properties.

In situ catalytic pyrolysis of lignocellulose using alkali-modified amorphous silica alumina.

Canadian pinewood was pyrolyzed at 450 °C in an Infrared oven and the pyrolysis vapors were converted by passing through a catalyst bed at 450 °C. The catalysts studied were amorphous silica alumina (ASA) containing alkali metal or alkaline earth metal species including Na, K, Cs, Mg and Ca. The catalysts effectiveness to reduce the bio-oil oxygen content, to enhance the bio-oil energy density and to change the liquid and gas product distribution were evaluated using different techniques including gravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, Karl-Fischer titration, GC/MS and micro-GC analysis. According to the results K/ASA found to be the most effective catalysts for conversion of hollocellulose (hemicellulose and cellulose)-derived vapors of pinewood while Cs/ASA catalyst was the most effective catalyst for conversion of lignin-derived vapors and production of hydrocarbons.