NiMoS on alumina-USY zeolites for hydrotreating lignin dimers: Effect of support acidity and cleavage of C-C bonds
Journal article, 2019

NiMoS on alumina, USY and mixed alumina-USY supports was studied in a batch reactor to assess the effect of support acidity in valorizing lignin dimers by hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). The reactivity of α-O-4 (benzyl phenyl ether), β-O-4 (2-phenethyl phenyl ether) and 5-5′ (2,2′-dihydroxybiphenyl) linkages was investigated in dodecane at 593 K and a H2 pressure of 5 MPa. A relatively fast rate of hydrogenolysis of the sp3 hybridized etheric bonds was observed for the catalyst supported on the mixed support. With the α-O-4 linkage, the USY supported catalyst selectively yielded deoxygenated aromatics including BTX products with fewer residual C-C dimers. For the β-O-4 linkage, analogous trends have been observed but with more aromatics. Interestingly, with 5-5′ linkages the catalyst on USY and mixed supports can break the C-C linkages without producing other intermediate C-C dimer byproducts. The results show high hydrocracking and isomerization activities of the catalyst supported on USY and mixed supports. This is consistent with XRD, Raman, XPS and TEM measurements, where enhanced dispersion of the active phase was observed. However, hydrogenation activity on the USY support is reduced to a significant degree which results in a large amount of benzene compared to NiMoS-Al2O3 that produces mostly cyclohexane. In addition, elemental analysis revealed that carbon deposition is higher on the USY-based catalyst compared to the alumina-based catalyst owing to its higher acidity. However, the potential for superior C-C bond cleavage on NiMoS-USY opens the possibility to valorize technical lignin in biorefinery processes.

Author

Muhammad Abdus Salam

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

Prakhar Arora

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Houman Ojagh

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

You Wayne Cheah

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Louise Olsson

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Derek Creaser

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Sustainable Energy and Fuels

23984902 (eISSN)

Vol. 4 1 149-163

The Competence Centre for Catalysis, KCK

Preem (22490-4), 2018-01-01 -- 2021-12-31.

Volvo Group (22490-4), 2018-01-01 -- 2021-12-31.

Chalmers (22490-4), 2018-01-01 -- 2021-12-31.

Johnson Matthey AB (22490-4), 2018-01-01 -- 2021-12-31.

Scania CV AB (22490-4), 2018-01-01 -- 2021-12-31.

ECAPS AB, 2018-01-01 -- 2021-12-31.

Umicore (22490-4), 2018-01-01 -- 2021-12-31.

Volvo Cars (22490-4), 2018-01-01 -- 2021-12-31.

Swedish Energy Agency, 2018-01-01 -- 2021-12-31.

Areas of Advance

Energy

Subject Categories

Chemical Process Engineering

Organic Chemistry

DOI

10.1039/c9se00507b

More information

Latest update

4/27/2022