Conversion of Anisole Catalyzed by Platinum Supported on Alumina: The Reaction Network

The conversion of anisole (a compound representative of bio-oils) in the presence of H-2 was investigated with a flow reactor operated at a temperature of 573 K and a pressure of 140 kPa with a platinum on alumina catalyst. Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry led to the identification of more than 40 reaction products, the most abundant being phenol, 2-methylphenol, benzene, and 2,6-dimethylphenol. The kinetically significant reaction classes were transalkylation, hydrodeoxygenation, and hydrogenation. Selectivity-conversion data were used to determine an approximate quantitative reaction network accounting for phenol, 2-methylphenol, 2-methylanisole, and 4-methylphenol as primary products. Pseudo-first-order rate constants for the formation of these products are 12, 2.8, 0.14, and 0.039 L/(g of catalyst x h), respectively. A more complete qualitative network was inferred on the basis of the observed products and the assumption that the reaction classes leading to the most abundant primary products were responsible for the minor and trace products. The removal of oxygen was evidenced by the production of benzene.