A New Method for Long-Chain Alkanes under a Condition Without Extra Hydrogen Source: Catalytic Upgrading of Cellulose Pyrolysis Vapors over Au/TS-1 Catalyst

Production of alkanes from bio-oil is usually conducted under a rigorous condition with high hydrogen consumption. In this study, a novel method for long-chain alkanes production via catalytic upgrading of cellulose pyrolysis vapors over Au/TS-1 catalyst under a mild condition without hydrogen and normal pressure was reported. Catalytic upgrading of cellulose was performed on a dual pyrolyzer (Py) coupled with gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The experimental results showed that Au/TS-1 could effectively decrease the oxygen content of bio-oil from 100 % to 21 %, and increase the selectivity of alkanes from 0 % to 76.7 %. Glucose, methanol and n-pentane were used as model compounds to understand the possible upgrading mechanism for the formation of hydrocarbons, and it is shown that the long-chain alkanes were generated from methyl and hydroxyl dehydration.