Design of Nickel Supported on Water-Tolerant Nb2O5 Catalysts for the Hydrotreating of Lignin Streams Obtained from Lignin-First Biorefining
Glauco F. Leal,
Sérgio Lima,
Inês Graça,
Heloise Carrer,
Dean H. Barrett,
Erico Teixeira-Neto,
Antonio Aprigio S. Curvelo,
Cristiane B. Rodella,
Roberto Rinaldi
Affiliations
Glauco F. Leal
Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK; Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, São Carlos, São Paulo 13566-590, Brazil; Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
Sérgio Lima
Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Inês Graça
Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Heloise Carrer
Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
Dean H. Barrett
Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil; School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Erico Teixeira-Neto
Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
Antonio Aprigio S. Curvelo
Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, São Carlos, São Paulo 13566-590, Brazil
Cristiane B. Rodella
Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
Roberto Rinaldi
Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK; Corresponding author
Summary: In biomass conversion, Nb2O5 has attracted increasing attention as a catalyst support presenting water-tolerant Lewis acid sites. Herein, we address the design of Ni/Nb2O5 catalysts for hydrotreating of lignin to hydrocarbons. To optimize the balance between acidic and hydrogenating properties, the catalysts were first evaluated in the hydrotreating of diphenyl ether. The best catalyst candidate was further explored in the conversion of lignin oil obtained by catalytic upstream biorefining of poplar. As primary products, cycloalkanes were obtained, demonstrating the potential of Ni/Nb2O5 catalysts for the lignin-to-fuels route. However, the Lewis acidity of Nb2O5 also catalyzes coke formation via lignin species condensation. Thereby, an acidity threshold should be found so that dehydration reactions essential to the hydrotreatment are not affected, but the condensation of lignin species prevented. This article provides a critical “beginning-to-end” analysis of aspects crucial to the catalyst design to produce lignin biofuels. : Catalysis; Biofuel; Energy Materials Subject Areas: Catalysis, Biofuel, Energy Materials
