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Catalytic Conversion of Glucose Micropyrolysis Vapors in Methane—using Isotope Labeling to Reveal Reaction Pathways
Author(s) -
Gunawardena Duminda A.,
Fernando Sandun D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.201600458
Subject(s) - deoxygenation , oxygenate , methane , chemistry , oxidative coupling of methane , catalysis , steam reforming , hydrogen , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , hydrogen production
Current biomass deoxygenation technologies require large quantities H 2 . Gaseous hydrogen is not a naturally‐occurring raw material and is largely produced industrially via natural gas/methane steam reforming. Due to its high thermodynamic stability, direct use of methane as a hydrogen‐donor for deoxygenation of complex oxygenates has not yet been demonstrated. Using catalytic pyrolysis studies performed at 700 °C with isotope labeled methane and glucose over Ni, Pt, Mo, and Ga impregnated HZSM‐5 (Si/Al ratio 30), here we show that methane, in fact, could be used as a direct hydrogen donor for deoxygenation reactions. The amount of aromatic hydrocarbons produced increased primarily in the presence of Mo (125 % increase), and to a lesser degree, Pt (50 % increase), and Ni (22 % increase) impregnated HZSM‐5 catalysts in a methane environment. Based on the metal present, results indicate the occurrence of distinct and concurrent reactions to various degrees: methane (steam) reforming and oxygenate dehydration reaction; independent aromatization of methane and oxygenates; and an intriguing methane oxygenate cross‐coupling reaction where both hydrogen and carbon from methane ending up in resultant deoxygenated aromatic products. This technique paves way for the direct use of methane/natural gas for deoxygenation reactions critical to biorefining.