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Title: Catalytic upgrading of biomass pyrolysis vapors and model compounds using niobia supported Pd catalyst

Journal Article · · Applied Catalysis. B, Environmental

This work addresses the effect of the support on the performance of Pd-based catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation of different model molecules (phenol, m-cresol, anisole, guaiacol) in the vapor phase at 573?K. The activity and the selectivity to deoxygenated products strongly depended on the support, regardless the model molecule. For HDO of phenol and m-cresol, benzene and toluene were the dominant products on niobia supported catalysts, whereas cyclohexanone and methylcyclohexanone were the main compounds formed on Pd/SiO2. For HDO of anisole, demethoxylation reaction producing benzene is favored over Pd/Nb2O5 catalyst, while demethylation is the preferred route over Pd/SiO2. Phenol and methanol were the main products observed for HDO of guaiacol over all catalysts but significant formation of benzene was detected over Pd/Nb2O5. The improved deoxygenation performance over the niobia supported catalysts is explained in terms of the oxophilic sites represented by Nb4+/Nb5+ cations. These catalysts were also tested for HDO of pine pyrolysis vapors. All three catalysts were effective for reducing the total yield of oxygenated products. The extent of deoxygenation was highest over the Pd/Nb2O5 and Pd/NbOPO4 catalysts. The effectiveness of Pd/Nb2O5 and Pd/NbOPO4 for deoxygenation of real feeds is in good agreement with the model compound results and suggests that these catalysts are promising materials for the upgrading of pyrolysis vapors to produce hydrocarbon fuels.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1462471
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5100-72087
Journal Information:
Applied Catalysis. B, Environmental, Vol. 238, Issue C; ISSN 0926-3373
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English