The in-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis of pinecone over HY catalysts, HY(30; SiO2/Al2O3), HY(60), and 1% Ni/HY(30), was studied by TGA and Py-GC/MS. Thermal and catalytic TGA indicated that the main decomposition temperature region of pinecone, from 200 to 400 °C, was not changed using HY catalysts. On the other hand, the DTG peak heights were differentiated by the additional use of HY catalysts. Py-GC/MS analysis showed that the efficient conversion of phenols and other oxygenates formed from the pyrolysis of pinecone to aromatic hydrocarbons could be achieved using HY catalysts. Of the HY catalysts assessed, HY(30), showed higher efficiency in the production of aromatic hydrocarbons than HY(60) because of its higher acidity. The aromatic hydrocarbon production was increased further by increasing the pyrolysis temperature from 500 to 600 °C and increasing the amount of catalyst due to the enhanced cracking ability and overall acidity. The use of 1% Ni/HY(30) also increased the amount of monoaromatic hydrocarbons compared to the use of HY(30) due to the additional role of Ni in enhancing the deoxygenation and aromatization of reaction intermediates.
Catalytic fast pyrolysis of lignin to produce aromatic hydrocarbons: optimal conditions and reaction mechanism