Catalytic deoxygenation of cellulose pyrolysis vapours over mesoporous materials

In this paper, catalytic deoxygenation of cellulose pyrolysis vapours over mesoporous materials is investigated. Three different MCM-41 mesoporous materials were employed as catalysts, namely, acidic H-MCM-41-15, H-MCM-41-20 and aluminium-free silica Na-Si-MCM-41, with cellulose beads used as a raw material. Pyrolysis/deoxygenation experiments were carried out in a dual-fluidized bed reactor. Thermal pyrolysis occurred over quartz sand and the vapours formed were upgraded in a consecutive fluidized bed, in which the mesoporours materials acted as catalysts. Both the yield and chemical composition of the pyrolysis products were affected by the catalysts. More water and CO were formed as a result of catalytic deoxygenation, compared to the non-catalytic experiment. Some of the organic compounds in the catalytic bio-oil had a lower oxygen content than the predominant levoglucosan in the non-catalytic bio-oil.