Shujuan Sui

Catalytic conversion of bio-oil to oxygen-containing fuels by simultaneous reactions with 1-butanol and 1-octene over solid acids: Model compound studies and reaction pathways.

Upgrading bio-oil by addition reactions across olefins represents a route to refine bio-oil to combustible and stable oxygen-containing fuels. Development and application of highly active strong solid acid catalysts with good hydrothermal stability has become a key determinant for success, because bio-oils complexity includes large amounts of water. Temperatures of 120°C or more are needed for satisfactory kinetics. Batch upgrading of a model bio-oil (phenol/water/acetic acid/acetaldehyde/hydroxyacetone/d-glucose/2-hydroxymethylfuran) over five water-tolerant solid acid catalysts (Dowex50WX2, Amberlyst15, Amberlyst36, silica sulfuric acid (SSA) and Cs(2.5)H(0.5)PW(12)O(40) supported on K-10 clay (Cs(2.5)/K-10, 30wt.%)) with 1-octene/1-butanol were studied at 120°C/3h. SSA, , exhibited the highest water tolerance and activity. Upgrading using olefin/1-butanol is complex, involving many simultaneous competing esterification, etherification, olefin hydration, phenol alkylation, aldol condensation, sugar dehydration etc. reactions.

Catalytic upgrading of wood-plastic composite fast pyrolysis vapors with USY/ HUSY catalysts

Ultra stable Y type(USY) zeolite and HUSY zeolite were applied to catalytic cracking of wood-plastic composite(WPC) fast pyrolysis vapors using analytical pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Compared with the results of non-catalytic pyrolysis, there was a dramatic increase in the concentration of olefins and aromatic compounds of the derived pyrolytic products. The catalysts significantly reduced aldehydes, acetic acid and ketones. In addition, levoglucosan was completely eliminated after catalysis. The results showed that both USY and HUSY zeolite exhibited high activity in the decarboxylation and decarbonylation of the pyrolytic products, and USY performed better than HUSY.