Catalytic pyrolysis of hydrolyzed lignin using HZSM-5/MCM-41 supported transition-metal to produce monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Hydrolyzed lignin (HL), one kind of organic solid wastes, comes from the production of hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass for high-value chemicals, unsuitable treatment of which not only meaning the waste of resources but also resulting environmental pollution. The pyrolysis of HL has the problem of high oxygen-containing compounds and low hydrocarbons in the products. The HZSM-5/MCM-41 (HM) meso-microporous composite catalyst, containing nickel and molybdenum, was synthesized through impregnation to enhance the production of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) during the in-situ catalytic pyrolysis of hydrolyzed lignin. Different transition metals loaded on composite molecular sieves were prepared for comparison. The relationship between catalyst structure and pyrolysis efficiency was studied based on characterization techniques including SEM, BET, and XRD. This study investigated the catalytic properties of modified composite molecular sieves with Ni and Mo at different loaded ratios on the pyrolysis of hydrolyzed lignin. Results indicated that HM loaded with different metals had different catalytic pyrolysis selectivity. The relative yield of MAHs on 3 %Ni-HM was the highest, at 27.78 %, while that of phenolic on 5 %Mo-HM was 51.02 %. Thus, by modifying the co-loading ratios between Ni and Mo, the combined catalytic pyrolysis of hydrolyzed lignin was performed, achieving a 39.24 % yield of MAHs on the catalyst Mo1Ni2-HM, markedly surpassing the 17.69 % yield from unaltered HZSM-5/MCM-41. In addition, the improvement of active sites was caused by transition metals loaded and the synergistic effect between bimetals enhanced the catalytic activity and stability. HZSM-5/MCM-41 loaded with metal oxides promoted the depolymerization of macromolecules in the intermediate products of pyrolysis, and thus improved the relative yield of MAHs among pyrolysis products of hydrolyzed lignin. •Composite molecular sieve HZSM-5/MCM-41 co-loaded with Ni and Mo was synthesized.•Transition metals loaded had different selectivity for the pyrolysis products.•Ni and Mo oxides regulated the acidic sites and pore characteristics of catalysts.•The effect of bimetallic catalysts on the relative yield of aromatics was studied.