Acetic Acid/Propionic Acid Conversion on Metal Doped Molybdenum Carbide Catalyst Beads for Catalytic Hot Gas Filtration

Catalytic hot gas filtration (CHGF) is used to precondition biomass derived fast pyrolysis (FP) vapors by physically removing reactive char and alkali particulates and chemically converting reactive oxygenates to species that are more easily upgraded during subsequent catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP). Carboxylic acids, such as acetic acid and propionic acid, form during biomass fast pyrolysis and are recalcitrant to downstream catalytic vapor upgrading. This work developed and evaluated catalysts that can convert these acids to more upgradeable ketones at the laboratory scale. Selective catalytic conversion of these reactive oxygenates to more easily upgraded compounds can enhance bio-refinery processing economics through catalyst preservation by reduced coking from acid cracking, by preserving carbon efficiency, and through process intensification by coupling particulate removal with partial upgrading. Two metal-doped molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) supported catalyst beads were synthesized and evaluated and their performance compared with an undoped Mo2C control catalyst beads. For laboratory scale acetic acid conversion, calcium doped Mo2C supported catalyst beads produced the highest yield of acetone at ~96% at 450 °C among undoped and Ca or Ni doped catalysts.