Abstract
Integration of aqueous-phase reforming of methanol (APRM) into the production of value-added fatty alcohols via hydrogenation of fatty acids is an attractive and efficient process in biomass conversion. Herein, we present tannin-derived carbon-supported monometallic Cu/C, Co/C and bimetallic Cu-Co/C catalysts with different Cu/Co ratios for in situ hydrogenation of lauric acid in a methanol-water hydrothermal system. The catalysts were made by a simple mixture of tannin and the metal salts, followed by pyrolysis in an H2 atmosphere. Through synergism induced by Cu-Co interactions, the bimetallic Cu-Co/C catalyst with Cu/Co ratio of 1:4 (CuCo4/C) exhibits higher catalytic activity than monometallic Cu/C catalyst towards lauric acid conversion, as well as higher selectivity to lauryl alcohol than monometallic Co/C catalyst. The CuCo4/C catalyst is composed of metallic Cu, metallic Co, and amorphous carbon, characterized by high surface area (194.5 m2/g) and hierarchical structure. The obtained lauryl alcohol yield in the methanol-water hydrothermal system is significantly higher than other alcohol-water systems, namely ethanol, 1-propanol, and isopropanol hydrothermal systems, highlighting its higher generation rate of hydrogen. Also, the effects of process parameters including the quantity of methanol, catalyst loading and reaction time on the conversion of lauric acid were systematically studied and optimized.
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