Catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass in a fluidized bed: from catalyst to process

Catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass in a fluidized bed: from catalyst to process
1st supervisor and 1st promotor: Prof. Emiel Hensen
2nd supervisor and 2nd promotor: Prof. Hans Kuipers
Affiliation: Eindhoven University of Technology
Research theme: Smart Biomass Conversion

Currently, aromatics – important building blocks for materials used in our modern society – are exclusively derived from non-renewable oil resources. In this project, the researchers evaluate the performance of promising zeolite catalysts in a fluidized catalytic bed in order to obtain kinetic data about the conversion of woody biomass or model feedstocks representing lignocellulosic biomass into aromatics.

Different zeolite catalysts will be evaluated and the co-feeding of olefins and oxygenates will be investigated. Detailed analysis of the liquid and gaseous products will be carried out. The spent catalysts will be investigated in detail by advanced spectroscopic techniques.

Keywords:

• Biomass
• Catalytic fast pyrolysis
• Fluidized bed
• Zeolite
• Kinetic model