Biomass Fast Pyrolysis Vapor Upgrading over γ-Alumina, Hydrotalcite, Dolomite and Effect of Na 2 CO 3 Loading: A Pyro Probe GCMS Study

Harsha Mysore Prabhakara, Eddy A. Bramer and Gerrit Brem
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Harsha Mysore Prabhakara: Department of Thermal and Fluid Engineering, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
Eddy A. Bramer: Department of Thermal and Fluid Engineering, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
Gerrit Brem: Department of Thermal and Fluid Engineering, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 17, 1-17

Abstract: The influence of γ-alumina, hydrotalcite, dolomite and Na 2 CO 3 loaded γ-alumina, hydrotalcite, dolomite on fast pyrolysis vapor upgrading of beechwood was investigated using an analytical pyro probe-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry instrument (Py-GC/MS) at a temperature of 500 °C. Overall, this research showcased that these catalysts can deoxygenate biomass pyrolysis vapors into a mixture of intermediate compounds which have substantially lower oxygen content. The intermediate compounds are deemed to be suitable for downstream hydrodeoxygenation processes and it also means that hydrogen consumption will be reduced as a result of moderate in-situ deoxygenation. Among the support catalysts, the application of hydrotalcite yielded the best results with the formation of moderately deoxygenated compounds such as light phenols, mono-oxy ketones, light furans and hydrocarbons with a TIC area % of 7.5, 44.8, 9.8 and 9.8, respectively. In addition, acids were considerably reduced. Dolomite was the next most effective catalyst as γ-alumina retained most of the acids and other oxygenates. Na 2 CO 3 loading on γ-alumina had a noticeable effect on eliminating more or less all the acids, enhancing the mono-oxy-ketones and producing lighter furans. In contrast, Na 2 CO 3 loading on dolomite and hydrotalcite did not show a major impact on the composition except for further enhancing the mono-oxy-ketones (e.g., acetone and cyclopentenones). Additionally, in the case of hydrotalcite and γ-alumina, Na 2 CO 3 loading suppressed the formation of hydrocarbons. In this research, the composition of pyrolytic vapors as a result of catalysis is elaborated further under the specific oxygenate groups such as acids, phenolics, furanics, ketones and acids. Further the catalysts were also characterized by BET, XRD and TGA analysis.

Keywords: deoxygenation; dolomite; hydrotalcite; sodium carbonate; pyroprobe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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