A novel processing paradigm: oxidation of pyrolysis oil to high value chemicals

加拿大的森林业正在经历一场革命，因为它创新了新的产品和市场，并更新了劳动力。森林残留物的热解是使加拿大森林产品组合多样化的一个令人兴奋的机会，但使用热解油作为燃料仍然具有挑战性。该项目提出了另一种加工模式：将热解油部分氧化为高价值的化学品，如羧酸，其应用范围广泛，如聚合物、树脂、食品加工、纺织品和制药。在本研究中，将对裂解油馏分和模型化合物进行气相催化部分氧化，以评估技术可行性。将确定温度、空速、反应物浓度和催化剂(二氧化钛载体上的钒)对转化率、产品收率和选择性的影响。热氧化将作为催化氧化的参照物。反应物和产物的组成将通过气相色谱和高效液相色谱来确定。用原子吸收光谱、氮气吸附/脱附、X-射线衍射、X-射线光电子能谱和透射电子显微镜对催化剂进行了表征。热解油馏分的氧化将揭示操作挑战(例如催化剂结焦)以及最有可能导致这些问题的化学品。模型化合物将被用来确定反应机理。该项目将培养一名MASC学生和两名本科生，为加拿大林业的革命做出贡献。该项目的成功完成将为热解油氧化制高价值化学品的商业化奠定基础，从而支持林业公司、充满活力的农村社区的强劲和可持续的经济表现，并建立低碳经济。

Canada's forest industry is undergoing a revolution as it innovates new products and markets and refreshes its labour force. Pyrolysis of forest residues is an exciting opportunity to diversify Canada's forest products portfolio but the use of pyrolysis oil as a fuel remains challenging. This project proposes an alternative processing paradigm: partial oxidation of pyrolysis oil to high-value chemicals such as carboxylic acids with a wide range of applications such as polymers, resins, food processing, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. In this study, pyrolysis oil fractions and model compounds will be subjected to gas phase catalytic partial oxidation to assess technical feasibility. The effect of temperature, space velocity, reactant concentrations, and catalyst (vanadium on titania support) on conversion and product yield and selectivity will be determined. Thermal oxidation will be performed as a comparator to catalytic oxidation. Reactant and product composition will be determined by gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The catalyst will be characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Oxidation of pyrolysis oil fractions will reveal operating challenges (e.g. catalyst coking) and the chemicals most likely responsible for these issues. Model compounds will be used to identify reaction mechanisms. The project will prepare a MASc student and two undergraduate students to contribute to the revolution of the Canadian forest industry. Successful completion of this project will lay the foundation for the commercialization of pyrolysis oil oxidation to high value chemicals thus supporting strong, sustainable economic performance by forestry companies, vibrant rural communities, and the establishment of a low carbon economy.****