Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of phenol over supported molybdenum carbide, nitride, phosphide and oxide catalysts

• Published in: Catalysis today 2014-03, Vol.223, p.44-53
• Main Authors: Boullosa-Eiras, Sara, Lødeng, Rune, Bergem, Håkon, Stöcker, Michael, Hannevold, Lenka, Blekkan, Edd A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bio-oil; Carbides; Catalysis; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Hydrodeoxygenation; Nitrides; Phenol; Phosphides; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
• ISSN: 0920-5861; 1873-4308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2013.09.044

•Synthesis of TiO2 supported carbide, nitride and phosphide catalysts.•Catalysts were active for phenol HDO with promising selectivity.•The 15wt% Mo2C/TiO2 showed the highest activity (crystals 10–30nm).•Moderate deactivation was observed (15wt% Mo2C/TiO2 during 400min.).•Supported MoP showed the highest hydrogenation activity. The performance of titania-supported molybdenum carbide, nitride, phosphide and oxide catalysts was compared for catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of phenol. Phenol was selected as a stable model component for lignin degradation products in fast pyrolysis bio-oil. The synthesis and formation path of the materials was evaluated by the use of complementary characterization techniques (XRD, TPR and TGA–MS). All the catalysts showed promising catalytic performance during testing in a fixed-bed reactor set-up at a temperature of 350°C and total pressure of 25bar, and the highest activity was achieved with 15wt% Mo2C/TiO2. A high selectivity towards benzene was observed with all catalysts. MoP supported on TiO2 showed the strongest tendency to aromatic ring hydrogenation and also a significant selectivity (10% level) towards methylcyclopentane, indicating contributions of acidic surface chemistry. Thus, Mo based materials are active and promising materials for establishing selectivity control in HDO of bio-oils.