The occurrence of oxygen in lignite derivatives and residue from catalytic ethanolysis of Shengli lignite under an inert atmosphere

• Published in: Journal of the Energy Institute 2024-04, Vol.113, p.101495, Article 101495
• Main Authors: Li, Sheng, Zhang, Xiao-Yu, Du, Fen-Fen, Ma, Zhi-Hao, Shan, Jian-Feng, Li, Li, Wei, Xian-Yong, Cong, Xing-Shun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cleavage of >CH–O– bond; Lignite; Oxygen transfer behavior
• ISSN: 1743-9671
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2023.101495

Lignite is rich in aromatic structures and oxygen atoms, which have the potential to produce organic oxygen-containing compounds. Investigating the cleavage of the >CH–O– bond and oxygen transfer behavior in the catalytic ethanolysis of lignite is indispensable. Herein, A difunctional catalyst composed of HZSM-5 and Ni nanoparticles was fabricated for splitting the >CH–O– bond in the absence of H2. It is found that the >CH–O– bond in Benzyloxy benzene (BOB) could be completely broken with ethanol in the absence of H2. Ethanol can be activated and release H+ over Ni/HZSM-5, which transfers and attacks the >CH–O– bond for obtaining toluene and phenols. The soluble portions from ethanolysis of Shengli lignite were analyzed with fourier transform infrared spectrometer and gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer for tracking the migration of oxygen atoms. It is apparent that esters with higher relative content (32.6 %) were detected in soluble portion 1 (SP1), while alcohols (35.3 %) dominate catalytically soluble portion 1 (CSP1). Moreover, a large number of alkyl-substituted phenols were identified in both SP1 and CSP1. Additionally, related analysis of SL and residual coal manifested that >CH–O– and >C=O bonds were the main forms of existence in residue from catalytic ethanolysis of SL. In a word, exploring the occurrence of oxygen in catalytic ethanolysis of lignite has the potential to produce lignite-derived organic oxygenated chemicals. The attack of H⋅ resulting in the cleavage of the C–O bond over Ni/HZSM-5. [Display omitted] •The occurrence of oxygen in lignite derivatives and residue were investigated.•The cleavage of C–O bonds proceeded by the attack of in-situ H⋅.•Shengli lignite was catalytically cracked in the absence of hydrogen.