Zeolite boosts aromatics yield from biomass

摘要

A catalyst that can increase olefin and aromatic production from biomass by 40% has been formulated by chemical engineers at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. The catalyst consists of a ZSM-5 zeolite, whose alumina-to-silica ratio and transport characteristics were modified, and gallium. Using a previously, developed catalytic fast pyrolysis process, the engineers tested the performance of the gallium-promoted ZSM-5 catalyst in producing the aromatics benzene, toluene, and xylene and the olefins ethylene and propylene, with wood as feedstock.