Production of ketones from pyroligneous acid of woody biomass pyrolysis over an iron-oxide catalyst

Abstract

Catalytic upgrading of pyroligneous acid, by-product from slow pyrolysis of woody biomass for char production, was carried out using zirconia-supported iron-oxide catalysts under a steam atmosphere at temperatures ranging from 623 to 723 K, and the effect of ZrO 2 content in the ZrO 2 -FeO X catalysts on catalytic activity and ketone yields was investigated. It was demonstrated that hydroxyacetone and carboxylic acids (acetic and propionic acids) in the pyroligneous acid were converted into aliphatic ketones (acetone and 2-butanone) via a ketonization reaction over the ZrO 2 -FeO X catalyst. However, reaction inhibition by metal impurities in the pyroligneous acid such as potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) was also observed. These metal impurities could be removed from the pyroligneous acid without changing the organic composition by using an ion-exchange resin. The removal of the metal impurities was effective in increasing the ketone yields. Moreover, as the W/F value (W: amount of catalyst, and F: flow rate of the pyroligneous acid in the feed) increased, the ketone yield increased up to approximately 30 C mol%, and the ketone fraction in the liquid product reached 55 C mol%.

Upgrading of oil sand bitumen over an iron oxide catalyst using sub- and super-critical water

“…Moreover, metal oxides have been utilized in the decomposition of glycerol [20,21], cacao pod husks [22], 10 lignin [23], pyroligneous acid [24], and ethanol fermentation stillage [25] to give useful materials. Compared with AR, the concentration of heavy components such as VR (vacuum residue) and asphaltenes is much higher in bitumen, which means that carbonaceous residues and coke are easily formed during its decomposition.…”

Fractionation of Pyroligneous Acid: The First Step for the Recovery of Levoglucosan

“…Organic bonds such as C-C, H-O, C-H, and C-O bonds in lignocellulosic biomass are decomposed by various reactions including dehydration, hydrolysis, oxidation, decarboxylation, and depolymerization to produce pyrolysis vapors, tar, gaseous products, and water vapor (Mansur et al 2013).…”

Conversion of Glycerol into Useful Chemicals over Iron Oxide-based Catalyst

“…In our previous research concerning conversion of pyroligneous acid solution using ZrO2 _ FeOx, the decrease in catalytic activity was observed due to the deposition of alkalline metals on the catalyst 19) . In contrast, almost complete glycerol conversions were obtained for ZrO2 _ FeOx and all alkali metal-supported ZrO2 _ FeOx catalysts.…”

“…Acetol (hydroxyacetone), formed by dehydration of glycerol, was mainly converted to carboxylic acids and ketones. Carboxylic acids are selectively converted into ketones over ZrO2-FeOx 19) , in which two molecules of carboxylic acids react to produce one molecule of ketone and CO2. Therefore, carboxylic acids and ketones were considered to be consecutively produced from acetol over the catalyst.…”

“…In our previous study, catalytic reactions of organiccontaining water solutions (pyroligneous acid) derived from the slow pyrolysis of cedar woodchips were carried out using ZrO2 _ FeOx catalyst 19) . ZrO2 _ FeOx catalyst has high activity for the selective production of ketones (acetone and 2-butanone) from pyroligneous acid.…”