Selective production of aromatic hydrocarbons from lignocellulosic biomass via catalytic fast-hydropyrolysis using W2C/γ-Al2O3

Abstract

This study is focused on fast hydropyrolysis of biomass followed by upgradation of pyrolysates over γ-alumina-supported tungsten carbide catalyst (W2C/γ-Al2O3). The catalyst was prepared by wet-impregnation followed by carburization, and was characterized by various techniques. Catalytic fast-hydropyrolysis experiments were performed at 500 °C in an analytical pyrolyzer coupled with gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer using pine-wood, cellulose and lignin as the feedstocks. W2C/γ-Al2O3 is proved to be an efficient hydrodeoxygenation catalyst producing aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons at 82% and 15% selectivities, respectively. Further, the activity of W2C/γ-Al2O3 catalyst is better than γ-Al2O3 and WO3/γ-Al2O3 in terms of both hydrocarbon selectivity and biomass conversion.