Effect of temperature on catalytic hydrocracking of Xiaolongtan lignite over a mesoporous silica-coated Fe3O4 supported magnetic solid base for producing aromatics

Lignites are promising candidates as feedstocks for producing chemicals rather than used as solid fuels. Herein, a mesoporous silica-coated Fe3O4 supported magnetic solid base (MSB) was prepared for catalytic hydrocracking (CHC) of Xiaolongtan lignite (XL). The effect of reaction temperature on aromatic production through CHC was investigated. The results showed that the MSB with abundant mesoporous structures has strong basic sites and superparamagnetism, which can effectively enhance producing soluble portions and aromatics from hydrocracking of XL. Both the yields of the soluble portions and aromatics from CHC of XL increased with raising reaction temperature. The maximum yield of the soluble portions reached 78 wt% at 300 degrees C from CHC. Phenols are the main group component from CHC of XL at 300 degrees C, which could be mainly generated from the cleavage of C-O bridged bonds in XL. Both the yields of phenols and arenes from CHC at 300 degrees C are twice more than those from CHC. It was proposed that the MSB could catalyze splitting H-2 to release active H and facilitate H transfer to cleave the C-O bridged bonds, resulting in producing higher yields of aromatics. (C) 2020 Energy Institute. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study conducted an investigation on catalytic hydrocracking (CHC) of lignites using a mesoporous silica-coated Fe3O4 supported magnetic solid base (MSB) catalyst. It was found that the MSB with abundant mesoporous structures could effectively enhance the production of soluble portions and aromatics from lignites. The yields of soluble portions and aromatics increased with raising reaction temperature, indicating the positive role of MSB in the hydrocracking process.