Optimizing the Aromatic Yield via Catalytic Fast Co-pyrolysis of Rice Straw and Waste Oil over HZSM-5 Catalysts

Abstract

Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) of lignocellulosic-based feedstocks into aromatics has attracted much interest, owing to its economic feasibility. However, the low effective hydrogen index (H/Ceff) of lignocellulosic biomass adversely impacts the production of aromatics via CFP. Here, we report catalytic fast co-pyrolysis (CFCP) of hydrogen-deficient rice straw (an important lignocellulosic-biomass-derived feedstock) coupled with hydrogen-rich stearic acid, gutter oil, or microalgae oil over a series of selected HZSM-5 catalysts. The aromatic yield of CFP of these three reactants decreases slightly in the order of stearic acid, microalgae oil, and gutter oil. CFP of rice straw has a lower aromatic yield than CFP of stearic acid, gutter oil, or microalgae oil. However, CFCP of rice straw along with each of the hydrogen-rich candidates produces higher aromatic yields than predicted by the theoretical yield values of CFP of the individual materials. Additionally, the mass ratios of the two reactants are optim...