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Catalysis Meets Nonthermal Separation for the Production of (Alkyl)phenols and Hydrocarbons from Pyrolysis Oil
Author(s) -
Cao Zhengwen,
Engelhardt Jan,
Dierks Michael,
Clough Matthew T.,
Wang GuangHui,
Heracleous Eleni,
Lappas Angelos,
Rinaldi Roberto,
Schüth Ferdi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201610405
Subject(s) - hydrodeoxygenation , petrochemical , pyrolysis , chemistry , lignocellulosic biomass , fractionation , organic chemistry , catalysis , phenol , alkyl , pyrolysis oil , biomass (ecology) , biofuel , phenols , lignin , chemical engineering , waste management , selectivity , oceanography , engineering , geology
A simple and efficient hydrodeoxygenation strategy is described to selectively generate and separate high‐value alkylphenols from pyrolysis bio‐oil, produced directly from lignocellulosic biomass. The overall process is efficient and only requires low pressures of hydrogen gas (5 bar). Initially, an investigation using model compounds indicates that MoC x /C is a promising catalyst for targeted hydrodeoxygenation, enabling selective retention of the desired Ar−OH substituents. By applying this procedure to pyrolysis bio‐oil, the primary products (phenol/4‐alkylphenols and hydrocarbons) are easily separable from each other by short‐path column chromatography, serving as potential valuable feedstocks for industry. The strategy requires no prior fractionation of the lignocellulosic biomass, no further synthetic steps, and no input of additional (e.g., petrochemical) platform molecules.