Biomass conversion over zeolite catalyst

The goal of the molecular-beam, mass-spectrometry (MBMS) studies of biomass pyrolysis product conversion over zeolite catalysts is to provide rapid characterization, in real time, of the fate of the complex reactants as a function of reaction parameters. This technique allows the qualitative observation of transient, reactive and high molecular weight reactants and products that might otherwise escape detection by conventional collection and analysis methods. The goal is to optimize gasoline yields from biomass, at this small scale, by evaluating a typical Mobil HZSM-5 zeolite in its ability... 

As biomaterials are structurally and chemically complex, biomass thermochemical conversion processes (1,2) produce complex fractions including a liquid fraction which, dep>ending on the process, can be obtained in large (liquefaction, pyrolysis) or small yields (gasification). These liquids have found little utility because of their large contents in oxygen which implies low heat values, instability and corrosive prop>erties. Two routes have been tested (3,4) in order to produce hydrocarbons from these liquids. The first one involves hydrotreatment with either H2 or H2 + CO over classical hydrotreatment catalysts. The second route is the simultaneous dehydration and decarboxylation over HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst in the absence of any reducing gas. 

Reprinted with permission from Huber, G.W., Iborra, S., Cotma, A., 2006. Synthesis of transportation fuels from biomass chemistry, catalysts, and engineering. Chemical Reviews 106 (9), 4044—4098. Copyright (2006) American Chemical Society Reprinted from Martinez, A., L6pez, C., 2005. The influence of ZSM-5 zeolite composition and crystal size on the in situ conversion of Fischer—Tropsch products over hybrid catalysts. Applied Catalysis A General 294 (2), 251—259 with permission from Elsevier. 

Previous Work in Zeolite Conversion of Biomass Vapors. Applications of zeolites for the conversion of oxygenates in general and biomass pyrolysis products in particular has been previously reviewed (1,2). Over the last decade, Mobil researchers (e.g., 3-5) and others (6-17) have examined a variety of oxygenated compounds over HZSM-5 catalysts of various origins. Several investigators have converted wood pyrolysis products (10-14). 

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