Aromatic fuel production from phenolics by catalytic hydrodeoxygenation over novel Mo-based catalyst

Abstract

Abstract MoO3/SiO2 catalysts were prepared by impregnation, co-precipitation and stepwise precipitation, respectively. Their textural structure and physicochemical properties were characterized by low temperature N2 adsorption, SEM, TEM, and NH3-TPD technologies, and their catalytic activity was tested using the hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol in an autoclave. SP-MoO3/SiO2 catalyst prepared by stepwise precipitation exhibits the highest catalytic activity for conversion of guaiacol to aromatic hydrocarbons. Direct cleavage of the C-O bond by hydrolysis over oxygen vacancy of MoO3-x is dominant during the HDO of guaiacol, leading to the high selectivity for arenes. In addition, large amount of toluene was found in the product over SP-MoO3/SiO2 catalyst, suggesting that the methyl transfer reaction can be promoted by the strong acidity.