Issue 15, 2024

Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of benzoic acid as a bio-oil model compound: reaction and kinetics using nickel-supported catalysts

Abstract

The development of technologies for the bio-oil upgrading process is a crucial step towards achieving sustainable energy production. This study investigates the effects of support properties during the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of benzoic acid as a bio-oil model compound with the aim to produce a catalyst of superior activity and selectivity. Three Ni-based catalysts were prepared: microporous m-Ni/ZSM-5, mesoporous h-Ni/ZSM-5, and Ni/SiO2. The h-Ni/ZSM-5 exhibited the highest concentration of acid sites, strongest metal-support interaction and best metal dispersion. The highest conversion of benzoic acid was recorded over the h-Ni/ZSM-5 catalyst (97%). Ni/SiO2 catalysts produced toluene, while others produced benzene and cyclohexane in addition. This was linked to a synergy between support acidity and metal sites. The catalyst from the nearly neutral support, Ni/SiO2, showed higher activity (91% conversion) compared to m-Ni/ZSM-5 (84%), which was attributed to the mesoporous nature of Ni/SiO2, allowing more access to active sites for bulk benzoic acid molecules. A kinetic model was developed using the Langmuir–Hinshelwood–Hougen–Watson (LHHW) approach. A mechanism assuming dual-site adsorption of dissociatively adsorbed hydrogen was shown to be the most accurate representation of the three-phase benzoic acid HDO. The observed activation energy from the model was 137.2 kJ mol−1.

Graphical abstract: Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of benzoic acid as a bio-oil model compound: reaction and kinetics using nickel-supported catalysts

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
02 Maijs 2024
Accepted
19 Jūn. 2024
First published
19 Jūn. 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2024,8, 3347-3361

Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of benzoic acid as a bio-oil model compound: reaction and kinetics using nickel-supported catalysts

M. Yusuf, G. A. Leeke and J. Wood, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2024, 8, 3347 DOI: 10.1039/D4SE00589A

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