MULTI-FUNCTIONAL CATALYST COMPOSITION FOR THE CONVERSION OF BIOMASS
A process is disclosed for the conversion of cellulosic biomass, in particular ligno-cellulosic biomass. The process comprises heating the biomass to a conversion temperature in the range of from 200 to 500° C. in the presence of a catalyst system. The catalyst system comprises a basic functionality comprising an alkali metal component and a multivalent metal component. The catalyst system optionally further comprises an acidic component.
1 . A process for the catalytic pyrolysis of cellulosic biomass, said process comprising heating the cellulosic biomass to a conversion temperature in the range of from 200° C. to 500° C. in the presence of a catalyst system, characterized in that the catalyst system comprises a basic functionality, said basic functionality comprising an alkali metal component and a multivalent metal component.
2 . The process of claim 1 wherein the multivalent component comprises a divalent metal, a trivalent metal, or a combination of a divalent metal and a trivalent metal.
3 . The process of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the multivalent metal component comprises a hydrotalcite, a hydrotalcite-like material, an anionic clay, a mixed metal oxide, or a mixture thereof.
4 . The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the alkali metal component comprises an alkali metal carbonate.
5 . The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the alkali metal component and the multivalent metal component are combined in a catalyst particle.
6 . The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the catalyst system further comprises an acidic component.
7 . The process of claim 6 wherein the acidic component comprises a solid acid.
8 . The process of claim 7 wherein the acidic component comprises a zeolite, a silica-alumina, or a combination thereof.
9 . The process of claim 8 wherein the zeolite comprises a ZSM-zeolite, a Y-zeolite, or a mixture thereof.
10 . The process of claim 9 wherein the zeolite comprises ZSM-5.
11 . The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the conversion temperature is in the range of from 250° C. to 400° C., preferably from 300° C. to 380° C.
12 . The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the cellulosic biomass is heated to the conversion temperature in a fluid bed reactor.
13 . The process of claim 12 wherein at least part of the catalyst system acts as a heat carrier.
14 . The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the cellulosic biomass is contacted with at least one component of the catalyst system in a pretreatment step.
15 . The process of claim 14 wherein the pretreatment step comprises impregnating the cellulosic biomass with a solution of a component of the catalyst system.
16 . The process of claim 14 or 15 wherein the pretreatment comprises mechanically treating the cellulosic biomass in the presence of a component of the catalyst system in particulate form.
17 . The process of claim 16 wherein the mechanical treatment comprises milling, grinding, kneading, or a combination thereof.
18 . The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the cellulosic biomass is of aquatic origin.
19 . The process of any one of claims 1 - 17 wherein the cellulosic biomass comprises a ligno-cellulosic biomass.
20 . The process of claim 19 wherein the lignocellulosic biomass is an energy crop material, an agricultural waste material, or a forestry waste material.
21 . The process of any one of the preceding claim wherein the catalyst system comprises catalyst particles, said catalyst particles comprising all components of the catalyst system.