Hydrogenolysis of lignin to produce aromatic monomers over FePd bimetallic catalyst supported on HZSM-5

• Published in: Fuel processing technology 2021-03, Vol.213, Article 106713
• Main Authors: Zeng, Zi, Xie, Jiaoyang, Guo, Yue, Rao, Ruiheng, Chen, Bo, Cheng, Lihua, Xie, Ying, Ouyang, Xinping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aromatic monomers; Bimetallic Fe[sbnd]Pd catalysts; Hydrogenolysis; Lignin
• ISSN: 0378-3820; 1873-7188
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2020.106713

Highly dispersed FePd bimetallic catalyst supported on HZSM-5 (Fe-Pd/HZSM-5) was prepared by impregnation method for the hydrogenolysis of lignin. The correlation between the textural properties of the catalyst and its catalytic activity to lignin hydrogenolysis were investigated. The presence of Fe facilitates the dispersion of Pd, and the particle size decreases from 6.1 nm for 3.0 wt% Pd/HZSM-5 (Pd-3.0) to 2.5 nm for 9.0 wt% Fe-1.0 wt% Pd/HZSM-5 (FP-1.0). Fe is mainly existed in the oxidized state which means that electrons in Pd tend to transfer to FeOx, facilitating the activation of H2 to form active H atoms. Due to the geometric and electronic synergistic effects, FP-1.0 bimetallic catalyst exhibits a good catalytic activity to lignin hydrogenolysis, contributing to as higher as 98.17% of lignin conversion and 27.92% of aromatic monomers yield under the optimal reaction conditions of 1 MPa H2 at 320 o C for 120 min in ethanol-water solvent. FP-1.0 bimetallic catalyst with low cost and highly catalytic activity may be a potentially useful catalyst for selective hydrogenolysis of lignin. [Display omitted] •A new FePd bimetallic catalyst supported on HZSM-5 was prepared.•Fe facilitates the dispersion of Pd, the particle size decreasing from 6.1 to 2.5 nm.•Electrons in Pd tend to transfer to FeOx to increase the amount of active H atoms.•Geometric and electronic effects give catalytic activity to lignin hydrogenolysis.•The catalyst gives 98.17% of lignin conversion and 27.92% of aromatic monomers.