Aromatics Production via Catalytic Pyrolysis of Pyrolytic Lignins from Bio-Oil

Herein we reported a promising method for the production of aromatics from pyrolytic lignin (PL). Compared to the lignins derived from pulping process, the PLs obtained from bio-oil give more aromatics (40% in carbon yield) and do not generate effluvial gas containing sulfur. More importantly, phenols are the main products with selectivity over 90% at 600 degrees C without catalyst. In the presence of ZSM-5, the coke deposition was not obvious and the selectivity for aromatic hydrocarbons is more than 87%, indicating robustness of ZSM-5 for deoxygenating and high tolerance to PLs. Therefore we have demonstrated the catalytic pyrolysis of PLs is an alternative way to produce fuel additives and useful chemicals.