(507d) Ex-Situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Wood Chips Using Lamellar MFI and Ni-Supported Lamellar MFI Zeolites

The catalytic fast pyrolysis wood chips have been investigated to reduce environmental impacts and economic risks of transportation fuels production from crude oil. The low bio-oil hydrodeoxygenation efficiency and deactivation of catalyst due to coke formation are the challenges for the commercialization of catalytic fast pyrolysis of wood chips. In this study, mesoporous lamellar zeolites and Ni supported on lamellar zeolites have been studied for the catalytic fast pyrolysis of wood. The catalyst materials are characterized via UV-Vis, XRD, SEM, and H₂-TPR techniques. The catalytic augur pyrolysis reactor with a processing capacity of 0.9 g/min is used to study the performance of lamellar zeolite, Ni supported on lamellar zeolite, commercial MFI zeolite, and the Ni-supported on the MFI zeolite. The zeolite catalyst powders were mixed with inorganic binder bentonite (70/30 w/w) and the mixture was pelletized using the Tablet Press. The temperatures of the pyrolysis reactor temperature and upgrading reactors were maintained at 450 and 300 Celsius, respectively. The yields of fuel, char, and the non-condensable gases were measured. The elemental analysis of bio-oils resulting from the catalytic fast pyrolysis of wood chips were performed to determine the oxygen content of fuels. The karl-fisher instrument was used to determine the water content of bio-oils. Finally, GC-MS analysis was done to characterize the fuels.