In-situ catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose with lithium-ion battery ternary cathodes and ex-situ upgrading over Ru/HZSM-5 for bio-aromatics

Abstract

Bio-aromatics preparation via in-situ catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose with lithium-ion battery ternary cathodes and ex-situ upgrading over Ru/HZSM-5 was studied. Three ternary cathodes with different ratios of Ni, Co, and Mn (NCM111, NCM532 and NCM811) were selected, and the effects of ternary cathodes and bifunctional Ru/HZSM-5 on the cellulose conversion were investigated from the perspectives of thermogravimetric kinetics and fixed-bed upgrading. The results indicated that cellulose pyrolyzed with cathodes reduced the solid residue content from 13.07% to 7.78%, 7.11%, and 6.63%, and decreased the weightlessness peak temperature from 358 ℃ to 348 ℃, 347 ℃, and 341 ℃; herein, the reaction order gradually elevated from 1.34 to 1.67 with the increased cathode Ni ratio, but the activation energy and pre-exponential factor obviously reduced. In-situ catalytic pyrolysis of ternary cathodes combined with ex-situ upgrading of Ru/HZSM-5 resulted in more cellulose-derived products being converted, increasing bio-oil yield from 22.47% to 25.08%, 24.75%, and 25.42%. Furfural was largely deoxygenated and dehydrated to become the precursor of aromatics, so NCM111, NCM532 and NCM811 usage increased the MAHs selectivity from 28.42% to 78.69%, 85.98%, and 87.27%, and high Ni ratio had higher deoxygenation capability and aromatic selectivity, simultaneously, it prone to creating material basis and spatiotemporal conditions for alkylation side reaction to increase C9 and above hydrocarbons. However, 1H NMR analysis confirmed that the main reaction of aromatization was still stronger than the side reaction even under high Ni ratio condition. Aromatics and coke production from acidic zeolite catalyzed reforming of oxygenates were competing reactions. In-situ catalysis of ternary cathodes produced more small molecule products to enter the inner pores of Ru/HZSM-5, forming more difficult to remove microporous coke, and the effect of increased Ni ratio was more obvious, but coke content reduced from 4.51% to 4.11%, 4.13%, and 3.05%, respectively.