Study on furfural conversion into aromatics over Zn/HZSM‐5 and Fe/HZSM‐5 catalysts

Abstract

AbstractZSM‐5 zeolite material (Si/Al ratio = 25) was synthesized with silica source of TEOS and TPAOH template. The zeolite is modified into proton form (HZSM‐5) with 343 m2/g of BET surface area, 324 m2/g of micropore area, 0.1491 cm3/g of micropore volume and 5.77 nm of BJH adsorption average pore width. Zinc oxide and iron oxide are dispersed onto HZSM‐5 catalyst surface with different contents by wet impregnation method. The results of HZSM‐5, Zn/HZSM‐5, Fe/HZSM‐5 catalyst materials still retain the micropore structure of ZSM‐5 zeolite. These materials are used as catalysts for furfural pyrolysis in the inert atmosphere (N2) with the temperatures ranged from 400 to 700 °C. The conversion of furfural to aromatic hydrocarbons on catalysts is evaluated by furfural conversion, conversion into aromatics and aromatic hydrocarbons selectivity. Result shows that 3 %Zn/HZSM‐5 and 2 %Fe/HZSM‐5 catalyst favor for furfural pyrolysis at 600 oC. The furfural conversion, the conversion into BTXN and the BTXN selectivity are respectively 48.36 %, 21.18 %, 16.18 % with 3 %Zn/HZSM‐5 catalyst and 64.41 %, 16.47 %, 26.81 % with 2%Fe/HZSM‐5 catalyst. These results are the basic research for the upgrade of pyrolysis oil into fuels.