Oxidative Cracking of Aromatic Compounds Related to Lignin Constituents with Steam Using ZrO sub(2)-Al sub(2)O sub(3)-FeO sub(x) Catalyst

• Published in: Journal of the Japan Petroleum Institute 2010-01, Vol.53 (3), p.178-183178
• Main Authors: Yoshikawa, Takuya, Na-Ranong, Duangkamol, Tago, Teruoki, Masuda, Takao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetophenone; Aromatic compounds; Carbonyl groups; Catalysts; Diphenyl methane; Ethers; Phenol; Zirconium dioxide
• ISSN: 1349-273X
• DOI: 10.1627/jpi.53.178

The catalytic activity of iron oxide composite catalyst (ZrO sub(2)-Al sub(2)O sub(3)-FeO sub(x)) was investigated for converting aromatic compounds derived from plant biomass into useful aromatics. Catalytic cracking of lignin constituent-related di-aromatics such as diphenyl ether, diphenyl methane, and 2-benzyloxyphenol, and mono-aromatics such as guaiacol, acetophenone, and 1-phenyl-1-propanol was carried out over ZrO sub(2)-Al sub(2)O sub(3)-FeO sub(x). The catalytic reactions were conducted in a fixed-bed reactor at 773 K under atmospheric pressure. Diphenyl ether and diphenyl methane were stable, whereas 2-benzyloxyphenol was thermally decomposed, followed by the production of toluene and phenol over ZrO sub(2)-Al sub(2)O sub(3)-FeO sub(x). Guaiacol and acetophenone were selectively converted into 54 C-mol% of phenol and 29 C-mol% of benzene, respectively. The methoxy and carbonyl groups were decomposed into gaseous products mainly consisting of CO sub(2), whereas dehydration of the aliphatic hydroxyl group in 1-phenyl-1-propanol mainly occurred to produce 1-phenyl-1-propene. ZrO sub(2)-Al sub(2)O sub(3)-FeO sub(x) catalyst is effective for degrading alkyl ether bonds between aromatic rings, and the ring substituent methoxy and carbonyl groups.