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Catalytic Conversion of Biomass Pyrolysis Vapours over Sodium‐Based Catalyst: A Study on the State of Sodium on the Catalyst
Author(s) -
Nguyen Tang Son,
Lefferts Leon,
Sai Sankar Gupta Karthick Babu,
Seshan Kulathuiyer
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201500236
Subject(s) - catalysis , deoxygenation , sodium , vapours , chemistry , pyrolysis , thermogravimetry , inorganic chemistry , nuclear chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , neuroscience , biology , engineering
In situ upgrading of biomass pyrolysis vapours over Na 2 CO 3 /γ‐Al 2 O 3 catalysts was studied in a laboratory‐scale fixed‐bed reactor at 500 °C. Catalytic oil exhibits a significant improvement over its non‐catalytic counterpart, such as lower oxygen content (12.3 wt % compared to 42.1 wt %), higher energy density (37.0 compared to 19.0 MJ kg −1 ) and lower acidity. A study using thermogravimetry–mass spectrometry analysis and 23 Na and 1 H magic‐angle spinning NMR techniques has revealed the formation of a new sodium species in the catalyst, which is responsible for the high catalytic activity. This species is proposed to be formed by the coordination of Na + ions and the hydroxyl groups on the surface of γ‐Al 2 O 3 . Regeneration of the catalyst was performed in air at 600 °C and the regenerated material displays lower activity towards deoxygenation than the fresh catalyst. This deactivation is likely attributed to the change in the active sodium species during regeneration.