A new class of structured catalysts and the associated catalytic system were developed, based on microwave (MW)-adsorbing material of silicon carbide (SiC, pellets and macroscopic cellular foams) with hierarchical characteristics (e.g. metal loaded ZSM-5 zeolites supported on SiC substrates), suitable for MW-enhanced catalytic upgrading of bio-oil vapours under continuous-flow. SiC ceramics have a high dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) to microwave (tan δ = 1.71 at 2.45 GHz) and hence can absorb electromagnetic energy rapidly and enable the focused intensive heating. Together with the high thermal effusivity and conductivity of SiC as well as microwave-induced microdischarges, the quick activation of catalysts on SiC surface and fast kinetics of bio oil hydrodeoxygenation on the catalyst surface was found. The Mg, Cu and Ni metal catalysts are dispered on ZSM-5 zeolite coatings supported on the surface of SiC supports. Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of bio-oil model compounds (e.g. acids, anhydrosugars, furanics, phenolics, aldehydes and ketones) over developed catalysts was carried out under both thermal and MW irradiation conditions, and optimised under MW conditions. In-situ methods were employed to perform mechanistic studies to understand the nature of MW-assisted catalytic hydrodeoxygenation. The optimised MW catalytic system was then be integrated with a fast pyrolysis reactor to test its performance with real bio oil vapour effluent. Technical-economic analysis, especially in terms of process energy efficiency, net present value and payback period is currently underway, using the conventional thermal catalytic system as the benchmark, to understand the competitiveness and economic viability of the proposed MW system.

Non-conventional: Catalytic upgrading of biomass pyrolysis vapour enabled by non-conventional energy (microwave)

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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