(114b) Highly Selective Fe/Mo Hydrodeoxygenation Catalysts

Bio-oils and lignin contain many types of phenolic species that require removal in order to be used as transportation fuels.[1,2]  Many catalysts have been used deoxygenate bio-oils and liquefy lignin including sulfides, carbides, oxides, and phosphides.[3]  However, in many cases, these catalysts are not selective to hydrodeoxygenation and often hydrogenate aromatic components as well.  Therefore, the development of new catalysts designed to selectively target the cleavage of C-O bonds in lignin is an important task.  Here, we discuss the synthesis and characterization of a new bimetallic Fe_xMo_yP_z catalyst that is highly selective for C-O bond cleaving and hydrodeoxygenation reactions.[4]  Specifically, these catalysts are capable of selectively deoxygenating phenol to form benzene rather than completely hydrogenating the aromatic ring to produce cyclohexane (~96 % benzene). Various model compounds have been studied with this catalyst, including anisole, catechol, and phenethyl phenyl ether.  Additionally, mechanistic D₂ studies were performed to determine how these catalysts deoxygenate various model compounds.  These catalysts have been characterized in detail with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, temperature programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), and FT-IR spectroscopy. 

[1]  Huber, G. W.; Iborra, S.; Corma, A., Chem. Rev., 2006, 106, 4044-4098.

[2] Zakzeski, J.; Bruijnincx, P. C. A.; Jongerius, A. L.; Weckhuysen, B. M., Chem. Rev., 2010, 110, 3552-3599.

[3]  Hicks, J.C.; J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2011, 2, 2280-2287.

[4]  Rensel, D. J.; Rouvimov, S.; Gin, M.;, Hicks, J.C.; J. Catal., 2013, in revision.