Hydrocarbons from the catalytic pyrolysis of biomass

In earlier publications it was shown that it is possible to directly convert wood in a gas-solid catalytic fluid bed to methane with a 70-80% carbon conversion, in a hydrogen atmosphere at 1 atm pressure. Use of alternative catalysts and processing conditions yields a variety of other products. In particular, it is possible to obtain from wood or cellulose much improved yields of olefinic compounds in the C{sub 2} to C{sub 6} range as compared to those reported for uncatalyzed high-temperature fast pyrolysis. Product analyses and yields for several catalysts are reported, and the yields from wood and from cellulose are compared. Some speculations are offered on the possible mechanism of the new thermocatalytic conversion process.