A time- and space-resolved catalyst deactivation study on the conversion of glycerol to aromatics using H-ZSM-5

Songbo He, Hero Reinder Goldhoorn, Zhuorigebatu Tegudeer, Anshu Chandel, Andre Heeres, Marc C.A. Stuart, Hero Jan Heeres*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)
99 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A time- and space-resolved deactivation study on the conversion of glycerol to aromatics over H-ZSM-5 was performed. For this purpose, glycerol was vaporized/pyrolyzed in a pyrolysis section followed by a catalytic aromatization step. Benchmark performance showed an induction period of ca. 20 min, followed by a rather constant BTX yield of ca. 25.4 ± 2.2C.% for 3–4 h time on stream (TOS). Subsequently, a rapid drop in BTX yield was observed due to catalyst deactivation. Severe coking leads to coverage of catalyst surface area and blockage of micropores, particularly at the entrance of the catalyst bed at short TOS, indicating the presence of an axial coke gradient in the fixed bed reactor. At longer TOS, coke was formed throughout the bed and negligible BTX yield was shown to be associated with the presence of coke at all bed positions. Besides coking, the acidity of the catalyst was also reduced, and dealumination occurred, both with a similar time–space evolution. The results were explained by a conversion-zone migration model, which includes a deactivation zone (with severely coked catalyst), a conversion zone (BTX formation), and an induction zone (a.o. (de-)alkylation reactions), and describes the time- and space-resolved evolution of coking and relevant changes in other catalyst characteristics.

Original languageEnglish
Article number134620
Number of pages13
JournalChemical Engineering Journal
Volume434
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15-Apr-2022

Keywords

  • BTX
  • Catalyst deactivation
  • Coke
  • Conversion-zone migration model
  • Dealumination
  • Glycerol

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