Catalytic upgrading of pyrolysis oils from lignocellulosic biomass affords a potential route for production of efficient, renewable liquid fuels1. Removal of oxygen from the vast plethora of phenolic compounds present in the oil is often undertaken through hydrotreatment (i.e. hydrodeoxygenation). Bifunctional heterogeneous metal-acid catalysts are promising materials for such purpose, due to the synergy between hydrogenation and dehydration activity to promote selective deoxygenation2,3. Currently this field remains vast, lacking in some key understanding of important changes brought about by careful control of the physiochemical properties of the two active sites. Here we present a full systematic study concerning hydrodeoxygenation of m-cresol as a representative bio-oil model compound, over acid-free platinum based catalysts as well as bifunctional Pt/aluminosilicates. The impact of Pt crystallite properties (size, dispersion) and support characteristics over wide ranges allows us to understand the best route for rational catalyst design, allowing in future the control of kinetics and tuning of selectivity to produce excellent yields of desired hydrocarbon products (&gt;99%).

Structure-Activity relationships in m-cresol hydrodeoxygenation over platinum catalysts

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.