Catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of biomass for bio-crude production using Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts

Shouyun Cheng; Lin Wei; Mustafa Alsowij; Fletcher Corbin; Eric Boakye; Zhengrong Gu; Douglas Raynie; Shouyun Cheng; Lin Wei; Mustafa Alsowij; Fletcher Corbin; Eric Boakye; Zhengrong Gu; Douglas Raynie

doi:10.3934/environsci.2017.3.417

AIMS Environmental Science

2017, Volume 4, Issue 3: 417-430. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2017.3.417

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Research article Topical Sections

Catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of biomass for bio-crude production using Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts

1.
Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
2.
Driftmier Engineering Center, University of Georgia, 597 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA
3.
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA

Received: 01 December 2016 Accepted: 12 April 2017 Published: 20 April 2017

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is an effective method that can convert biomass into bio-crude, but direct use of bio-crude derived from biomass HTL remains a challenge due to the lower quality. In this study, bifunctional Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts and zinc hydrolysis were combined to produce upgraded bio-crude in an in-situ HTL process. The K₂CO₃ and HZSM-5 catalysts with different Ni loading ratios were tested. The effects of different catalysts on the yield and quality of bio-crude and gas were investigated. The results indicated that the catalysts improved bio-crude and gas yields, compared to pine sawdust liquefaction without catalyst. The catalysts reduced the contents of undesirable oxygenated compounds such as acids, ketones, phenols, alcohols and esters in bio-crude products while increased desirable hydrocarbons content. K₂CO₃produced highest bio-crude yield and lowest solid residue yield among all catalysts. Compared to parent HZSM-5 catalyst, bifunctional Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts exhibited higher catalyst activity to improve quality of upgraded bio-crude due to its integration of cracking and hydrodeoxygenation reactions. 6%Ni/HZSM-5 catalyst produced the bio-crude with the highest hydrocarbons content at 11.02%. This catalyst can be a candidate for bio-crude production from biomass HTL.
- bio-crude,
- hydrothermal liquefaction,
- Ni/HZSM-5,
- hydrocarbon,
- catalyst,
- HZSM-5,
- K₂CO₃
Citation: Shouyun Cheng, Lin Wei, Mustafa Alsowij, Fletcher Corbin, Eric Boakye, Zhengrong Gu, Douglas Raynie. Catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of biomass for bio-crude production using Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts[J]. AIMS Environmental Science, 2017, 4(3): 417-430. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2017.3.417

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Abstract

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is an effective method that can convert biomass into bio-crude, but direct use of bio-crude derived from biomass HTL remains a challenge due to the lower quality. In this study, bifunctional Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts and zinc hydrolysis were combined to produce upgraded bio-crude in an in-situ HTL process. The K₂CO₃ and HZSM-5 catalysts with different Ni loading ratios were tested. The effects of different catalysts on the yield and quality of bio-crude and gas were investigated. The results indicated that the catalysts improved bio-crude and gas yields, compared to pine sawdust liquefaction without catalyst. The catalysts reduced the contents of undesirable oxygenated compounds such as acids, ketones, phenols, alcohols and esters in bio-crude products while increased desirable hydrocarbons content. K₂CO₃produced highest bio-crude yield and lowest solid residue yield among all catalysts. Compared to parent HZSM-5 catalyst, bifunctional Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts exhibited higher catalyst activity to improve quality of upgraded bio-crude due to its integration of cracking and hydrodeoxygenation reactions. 6%Ni/HZSM-5 catalyst produced the bio-crude with the highest hydrocarbons content at 11.02%. This catalyst can be a candidate for bio-crude production from biomass HTL.

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