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Acetic Acid Ketonization over Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 for Pyrolysis Bio‐Oil Upgrading
Author(s) -
Bennett James A.,
Parlett Christopher M. A.,
Isaacs Mark A.,
Durndell Lee J.,
Olivi Luca,
Lee Adam F.,
Wilson Karen
Publication year - 2017
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.201601269
Subject(s) - catalysis , thermogravimetric analysis , diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform , acetic acid , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , infrared spectroscopy , pyrolysis , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , nuclear chemistry , spectroscopy , inorganic chemistry , materials science , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , photocatalysis , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
A family of silica‐supported, magnetite nanoparticle catalysts was synthesised and investigated for continuous‐flow acetic acid ketonisation as a model pyrolysis bio‐oil upgrading reaction. The physico‐chemical properties of Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 catalysts were characterised by using high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, X‐ray photo‐electron spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and porosimetry. The acid site densities were inversely proportional to the Fe 3 O 4 particle size, although the acid strength and Lewis character were size‐invariant, and correlated with the specific activity for the vapour‐phase acetic ketonisation to acetone. A constant activation energy (∼110 kJ mol −1 ), turnover frequency (∼13 h −1 ) and selectivity to acetone of 60 % were observed for ketonisation across the catalyst series, which implies that Fe 3 O 4 is the principal active component of Red Mud waste.