(264e) Catalyst Screening for Upgrading Biomass Fast Pyrolysis Vapors

Oils condensed from fast pyrolysis of biomass are attractive as possible feedstocks or intermediates for existing refinery operations. Unfortunately, these oils often contain too much oxygen to be introduced into existing refineries and they must be upgrade. We have been exploring the strategy of upgrading pyrolysis vapor so as to avoid polymerization reactions that may occur during condensation. We have screened catalysts using an auto sampler apparatus connected to a Molecular Beam Mass Spectrometer (MBMS) and a micro-reactor. In the auto sampler, biomass pyrolysis vapors are passed through a small packed bed of catalysts (~ 1 mg) and into the sampling orifice of the MBMS. This apparatus allows rapid screening of temperature and catalyst formulation and universal sampling to determine loss of oxygen in the products. Using multivariate analysis of the mass spectra from these experiments, we can rank the catalyst effectiveness for producing nonoxygenated products. The micro-reactor uses approximately 1 g of catalyst in a packed bed and enables the study of catalyst deactivation and the determination of carbon balances. Measurement of the mass spectra of the products in real time shows the oxygenated compounds that are formed during deactivation and provides an indication of deactivation mechanisms. Carbon balances allow us to determine coking rates.