Operando Molecular Spectroscopy during Catalytic Biomass Pyrolysis

项目编号：1236716机构：Lehigh university标题：催化生物质热解过程中的Operando分子光谱生物质热解生产生物油正在成为一种有吸引力的生产可再生液体燃料的技术。然而，该技术发展的主要障碍是生物质催化热解制生物油——这是催化反应的第一步也是最关键的一步。然而，目前对生物质热解的催化剂和催化反应机理的研究还很少。该提案的假设是，对生物质热解过程中催化剂、表面反应中间体和反应途径的基本分子水平的理解将指导合理设计先进的催化剂，从而产生改进的生物油和燃料。由于目前的生物质热解研究只研究了不同反应条件下的热解产物收率和生物油组成，因此本项目将重点关注生物质热解过程中固体酸催化剂表面发生的分子事件。为了阐明催化剂表面发生的分子事件，在对天然生物质热解进行研究之前，将首先对纤维素、半纤维素和木质素等具有代表性的模型生物质化合物进行催化生物质热解反应过程的前沿原位和操作光谱表征研究。这种现代的催化方法将允许前所未有的深入了解固体酸混合氧化物催化剂上生物质热解的基本原理。利用定义明确的混合氧化物催化剂和模型生物质化合物进行热解过程的基础研究，将揭示催化生物质热解的基本构效关系。提出的研究计划有可能显著推进生物质热解的基础催化方面，也展示了多相催化研究的现代方法。固体酸混合氧化物对生物质热解复分解产生的新的基本见解，也有可能通过促进生物质转化为生物油的先进催化剂的发展，影响生物质热解的应用研究。现代的，分子水平的方法，将被开发和应用于拟议的研究计划，也将适用于其他领域的前沿多相催化研究。这个多学科项目将广泛地教育研究生和本科生。具体而言，该项目侧重于几个关键技术领域，包括纳米技术、材料合成、光谱学、碳水化合物表面化学、反应动力学和解决前沿能源问题。参与该研究项目的学生将被指导发展他们的批判性思维能力，实验设计和数据分析方法，以及有效的口头和书面沟通技巧。该计划的重点是为参与的学生提供一个国际研究经验，这将扩大他们的教育和文化经验。

PI: Wachs, IsraelProposal Number: 1236716Institution: Lehigh UniversityTitle: Operando Molecular Spectroscopy during Catalytic Biomass PyrolysisBiomass pyrolysis to produce bio-oil is emerging as an attractive technology to produce renewable liquid fuel. However, a major obstacle in the development of this technology is the catalytic pyrolysis of the biomass to bio-oils - - the first and most critical catalytic reaction step. Very little attention, however, has been paid so far to the catalyst and catalytic reaction mechanisms of biomass pyrolysis. The hypothesis of this proposal is that a fundamental molecular level of understanding of the catalyst, surface reaction intermediates and reaction pathways during biomass pyrolysis will guide the rational design of advanced catalysts that will yield improved bio-oils and fuels.This project will focus on the molecular events taking place on the surface of solid acid catalysts during biomass pyrolysis since recent biomass pyrolysis studies have only investigated pyrolysis product yield and bio-oil composition under various reaction conditions. In order to elucidate the molecular events taking place on the catalyst surface, cutting edge in situ and operando spectroscopic characterization studies during the catalytic biomass pyrolysis reaction will initially be undertaken with representative model biomass compounds of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin before the investigation of pyrolysis of natural biomass. This modern approach to catalysis will allow for unprecedented insight into the fundamentals of biomass pyrolysis over solid acid mixed oxide catalysts. The fundamental studies during pyrolysis with well-defined mixed oxide catalysts and model biomass compounds will unravel the fundamental structure-activity relationships for catalytic biomass pyrolysis.The proposed research program has the potential to significantly advance the fundamental catalysis aspects of biomass pyrolysis and also showcase the modern approach to heterogeneous catalysis research. The new fundamental insights that will be generated for biomass pyrolysis metathesis by solid acid mixed oxide have the potential to also influence applied biomass pyrolysis research by stimulating the development of advanced catalysts for biomass conversion to bio- oils. The modern, molecular level approach that will be developed and applied to the proposed research program will also be applicable to other areas of cutting edge heterogeneous catalysis research.This multidisciplinary project will broadly educate both graduate and undergraduate students. Specifically, this project focuses on several key technology areas including nanotechnology, material synthesis, spectroscopy, surface chemistry of carbohydrates, reaction kinetics and problem solving of cutting edge energy issues. The students involved in the proposed research project will be mentored to develop their critical thinking skills, experimental design and data analyses approaches, and effective oral and written communications skills. An emphasis of the proposed program is to provide the participating students an international research experience that will broaden their educational and cultural experiences.