Ex-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) is a potentially inexpensive route for the production of renewable chemicals and liquid fuels. However, the efficient conversion of pyrolysis vapors to fuels and chemicals requires bifunctional catalysts that are capable of both favoring C–O bond cleavage and activating H2 at low pressures. Transition-metal carbides have been identified as excellent candidates for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) catalysts for the upgrading of bio-oil. Herein, we present the synthesis of isolated nanoparticles (NPs) of a-MoC1-x. HDO of acetic acid, a major component of bio-oil, was conducted at 250-500 °C over the synthesized NP-MoC1-x catalysts to investigate hydrogen activation and deoxygenation pathways. The catalytic behavior and physical properties of the synthesized NP-MoC1-x materials were compared to bulk a-MoC1-x and b-Mo2C to determine structure-function relationships. The NP a-MoC1-x material was found to have a greater acid-site:H-site ratio and a fraction of stronger acid sites than the bulk carbides. The greater acid-site:H-site ratio resulted in a higher selectivity towards decarbonylation, where the additional stronger acid sites lead to both increased activity and ketonization selectivity over the NP a-MoC1-x catalyst.

A molecular approach to the design and synthesis of metal carbide catalysts for biomass upgrading

256th National Meeting (2018)

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