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Upgrading renewables, secondary, and waste streams through innovative hydroprocessing catalysts and reaction pathways

Problem statement

Hydroprocessing is a well-implemented and versatile refinery conversion strategy, comprising a wide array of reaction routes such as: (i) hydrotreating, aiming for the hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons and the removal (hydrogenolysis) of heteroatoms such as sulfur or nitrogen; (ii) hydrocracking, for promoting C–C bond scission and the partial saturation of aromatics; or (iii) hydrodeoxygenation, for the specific removal of oxygen moieties. In this project, we investigate the conversion of highly polyaromatic feedstock like heavy fuel oil (HFO), pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO), or bio-oils from different biomass sources (i.e., agricultural waste, algae) for quality improvement and obtaining products with higher added value.

We seek new (thermo-) catalytic strategies and improved heterogeneous catalysts with increased activity and stability. We put advanced analytical characterization techniques (i.e., nuclear magnetic resonance, high-res mass spectrometry) to work and combine their results with modeling and statistical tools.

Goals

  • Develop a quantitative analytical workflow to analyze and interpret these complex reacting environments
  • Explore novel renewable and waste resources to obtain chemicals and fuels
  • Deploy ad-hoc catalysts and process conditions to incorporate these wastes in the refinery (bio- and waste-refinery)
  • Analyze process dynamics and kinetics
HPC

Related People

Related Publications

Unraveling the reaction mechanism of selective C9 monomeric phenols formation from lignin using Pd-Al2O3-activated biochar catalyst

by Gurrala, Kumar, Yerrayya, Kandasamy, Castaño, Raja, Pilloni, Paek, Vinu
Bioresour. Technol. Year: 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126204

Abstract

The conversion of biomass-derived lignin to valuable monomeric phenols at high selectivity is of paramount importance for sustainable biorefineries. In this study, a novel Pd-Al2O3 supported on activated biochar catalyst is developed for lignin hydrogenolysis. The catalyst characterization revealed that the (1 1 1) planes of both of Pd0 and Al2O3 were exposed to the surface. The maximum lignin conversion of 70.4% along with high liquid yield (∼57 wt%) was obtained at 240 °C, 3 h and 3 MPa H2 pressure. The total monomeric phenols yield in the liquid was 51.6 wt%, out of which C9 monomeric guaiacols constituted ∼ 30.0 wt% with 38.0% selectivity to 4-propyl guaiacol. Using the reaction intermediate, coniferyl alcohol, chemoselective hydrogenation of Cα=Cβ is proved to occur over the Pd site, while dehydroxylation of Cγ–OH is shown to occur over the alumina site. An impressive carbon atom economy of 60% was achieved for the production of monomeric phenols.

Keywords

HCE HPC