Biomass-derived phenolics conversion to C10–C13 range fuel precursors over metal ion-exchanged zeolites: Physicochemical characterization of catalysts and process parameter optimization

Gul Afreen, Divyank Mittal and Sreedevi Upadhyayula

Renewable Energy, 2020, vol. 149, issue C, 489-507

Abstract: Selective formation of C10–C13 range fuel precursors by gas-phase alkylation of m-cresol (a bio-oil product from lignin/lignocellulosic biomass) with iso-propanol (light oxygenates) over highly efficient metal ion-exchanged zeolite catalysts is reported. Zn-HY zeolite exhibited higher catalytic activity as compared to Zn-HZSM5, Zn-HBEA, Zn-HMCM22, and other metal ion-exchanged HY zeolites. The catalytic activity was observed to increase with zinc content in HY, which is attributed to its high Lewis acidity. A comprehensive investigation of important process parameters like reaction temperature (200–300 °C), WHSV (1.68–3.92 h−1), iso-propanol:m-cresol mole ratio (1:1–3:1), and catalyst loading (0.5–1.5 g) is reported and optimized using Design of Experiment (DoE) through Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Experimental data was fitted to a second-order polynomial equation using multiple regression analysis with high determination coefficient (R2) value of 98.65% for conversion of m-cresol and 98.37% for selectivity to thymol. An m-cresol conversion of ∼92% with ∼71% selectivity to thymol was obtained over Zn-HY-III containing 0.99 mmol g−1 zinc at optimal conditions of 250 °C temperature, 2.8 h−1 WHSV, 2:1 reactant mole ratio, and 1 g catalyst loading. This work demonstrates the prevention of carbon fraction loss during hydrodeoxygenation by efficient alkylation of phenolics with oxygenates obtained as major fractions in bio-oil.

Keywords: Biomass; Ion-exchanged zeolites; Alkylation; Response surface methodology; Thymol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:149:y:2020:i:c:p:489-507

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.12.064

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