Low‐Temperature Direct Catalytic Hydrothermal Conversion of Biomass Cellulose to Light Hydrocarbons over Pt/Zeolite Catalysts

Direct catalytic hydrothermal conversion of cellulose to C3+C4 hydrocarbons at a low temperature (443 K) over a Pt/zeolite catalyst without hydrogen or other expensive reagents was investigated. Pt supported on NH4+‐form ultra‐stable Y‐type (NH4‐USY) zeolite catalyst, which showed the highest activity among the tested Pt/zeolite catalysts, has appropriate acidity and a suitable active Pt site. The C3+C4 hydrocarbon yield reached 14.5 C‐% during the reaction over the Pt/NH4‐USY catalyst at 443 K after 72 h of the reaction. Results showed that the acid strength of the zeolite support was an important factor affecting the cellulose decomposition activity. Because of their structural sensitivity, Pt/zeolite catalysts with Pt particles larger than 5 nm, including Pt/NH4‐USY catalyst, showed higher TOF values than catalysts with Pt particles smaller than 5 nm. Cellulose was directly converted to C3+C4 hydrocarbons by a bifunctional catalysis of Pt supported on zeolite catalyst, even at 443 K, under hydrothermal condition. Because of their structural sensitivity, Pt/zeolite catalysts with Pt particles larger than 5 nm showed higher TOF values.