Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) is a promising platform for converting biomass into fuel blendstocks and chemical co-products. However, the process hinges upon effective catalytic upgrading and stabilization (through deoxygenation) of the over 400 different organic oxygenates present in the biomass pyrolysis vapor stream. Due to the complexity of this process stream, model compound studies can elucidate reaction mechanisms and intrinsic catalyst kinetics, thus offering feedback for fundamental catalyst design, but they provide only limited insight into critical CFP process metrics (e.g., yield and deactivation rate). Conversely, continuous, integrated bench-scale biomass CFP experiments enable assessments of technological progress and catalyst performance, but they shed little light on the fundamental properties of the catalyst. In order to accelerate catalyst development and advance the CFP platform, these experimental approaches need to be linked in order to develop meaningful reaction pathways, catalyst descriptors, and hypotheses for further evaluation. This presentation will describe an example case in which model compound studies were linked with multi-scale CFP evaluation in both pulsed and continuous systems to guide further catalyst development. The role of computational modeling and advanced catalyst characterization will also be discussed.

Deoxygenation of biomass pyrolysis vapors: Linking model compound studies and biomass catalytic fast pyrolysis experiments at multiple scales to inform catalyst development

2019 Fall National Meeting

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