Conversion of gylcerol to gasoline over acidic zeolites and Pd/ZnO catalysts

FUEL 61

Trung Hoang, trunghoang@ou.edu1, Tanate Danuthai1, Lance L. Lobban1, Daniel E. Resasco, resasco@ou.edu2, and Richard G. Mallinson, mallinson@ou.edu3. (1) School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 100 E. Boyd Street, SEC T-335, Norman, OK 73019, (2) School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 100 E. Boyd St., Norman, OK 73019, (3) Institute for Gas Utilization, University of Oklahoma, 100 E. Boyd Street, SEC T-335, Norman, OK 73019
Glycerol is a byproduct in the production of biodiesel from transesterification of vegetable oil. Catalytic reactions for conversion of glycerol to fuel are of interest for utilizing a potentially abundant byproduct for production and upgrading of biofuels. The conversion of glycerol to gasoline was studied on acidic zeolites. The results show that three dimensional pore zeolites, for instance, HZSM-5, HZSM-11, and HY zeolites tend to produce aromatics. Although the pressure was high (300 psig), aromatics were still produced over 3-D zeolites. However, no aromatics were produced on HMOR or H-OMEGA, with a 1-D pore structures. The products observed from the reaction included formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetol, etc. Using a Pd/ZnO catalyst in the first bed, the glycerol could be deoxygenated to the C1, C2, and C3 carbonyls. These intermediates can react further on either HY or HZSM-5 in the second catalytic bed to produce fungible gasoline range molecules.
 

BioFuels: Renewable Liquid Fuels & Chemicals from Biomass
8:05 AM-12:10 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 Boston Park Plaza -- Arlington Rm, Oral

Division of Fuel Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007