Dissertation
DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF CATALYTIC PYROLYSIS PROCESS OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS OVER SULFONATED CARBON-BASED CATALYST
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000006427
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/118983
Abstract
This work aimed to develop a carbon-based solid acid catalyst derived from renewable biomass resources for the catalytic pyrolysis process. The sulfonated activated carbon (SAC) was effectively used as a catalyst to directly convert lignocellulosic biomass to produce high-value liquid products in a single-step process. The SAC was synthesized via microwave carbonization of phosphoric acid-activated corncob followed by sulfuric acid sulfonation. The activation and carbonization processes were carried out to develop micropores and mesopores on the carbon structure. The presence of micro- and mesopores was beneficial for the accommodation of the intermediate compounds of different molecular sizes from the biomass pyrolysis to react within the pore openings of the SAC. In addition, the sulfonation treatment facilitated the integration of acid sites on the catalyst surface to enhance the catalyst activity and selectivity, enabling the production of abundant target compounds. Lower sulfonation temperature can lead to higher SO3H density, which in turn increases the selectivity of bio-jet fuel range hydrocarbons from catalytic co-pyrolysis of Douglas fir (DF) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The SAC promoted the conversion of guaiacols and furans intermediates to form phenolics that led to the production of highly phenolic bio-oil from the catalytic pyrolysis of DF. Further, SAC was an effective catalyst for catalytic co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastic for the selective production of bio-jet fuel range hydrocarbons (aromatics and C8-C16 alkanes) in the oil phase bio-oil and phenolic compounds (phenols and methylphenols) in the aqueous phase bio-oil. The SAC promoted the catalytic cracking of the long-chain polymers of the LDPE and possible interaction of DF-derived compounds and LDPE-derived olefins via Diels-Alder reaction, rearrangement, cracking, dehydration, and aromatization reactions to produce bio-oil with improved quality. Kinetic studies showed that SAC addition enhanced the reaction rate of DF thermal degradation but may require higher activation energy. On the other hand, SAC had a positive catalytic effect in LDPE decomposition as evidenced by the reduction in activation energy, suggesting its potential application in the catalytic pyrolysis of plastics.
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Details
- Title
- DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF CATALYTIC PYROLYSIS PROCESS OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS OVER SULFONATED CARBON-BASED CATALYST
- Creators
- Wendy Camacho Mateo
- Contributors
- Hanwu Lei (Advisor)Birgitte Ahring (Committee Member)Joan Wu (Committee Member)Huamin Wang (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 210
- Identifiers
- 99900599657401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation