Enhanced selectivity in the production of furans/olefins through ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis over metal-modified TS-1

Catalytic pyrolysis technology is one of the most environmental and efficient approach in converting biomass waste into high-value chemicals and fuels. In this study, the ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose to produce furans and olefins was reported using various metal-loaded TS-1 as catalysts. The experimental results showed that the Au/TS-1 exhibited an exceptional catalytic activity in the production of furans and olefins, achieving a selectivity of 49.17 % and 40.65 %, respectively. Ni/TS-1 effectively promoted the formation of ethylene, yielding a selectivity of 97.49 % and a yield of 6.11 C-mol%. Under the optimized conditions: pyrolysis temperature of 550 ℃, catalytic temperature of 600 ℃, and catalyst to cellulose mass ratio of 20:1, the Au/TS-1 catalyst achieved a furans selectivity of 41.91 % with a yield of 11.94 C-mol%, while olefins selectivity and yield were 49.84 % and 18.99 C-mol%, respectively. At this condition, Au/TS-1 still has excellent catalytic activity after 10 cycles and has good catalytic effect towards different biomass feedstocks. Furthermore, the possible mechanism to produce furans and olefins was revealed. This research offers valuable insights for guiding the directed conversion of biomass into value-added chemicals, paving the way for a more sustainable future.