Bio-Oil upgrading via catalytic pyrolysis of waste mandarin residue over SBA-15 catalysts

Mesoporous SBA-15-based catalysts were applied, for the first time, to the pyrolysis of waste mandarin residue. Si-SBA-15 with few acid sites, Al-SBA-15 with a significant amount of acid sites owing to the alumination treatment, and Pt/Al-SBA-15, which was synthesized by incorporating 7.1-nm Pt nanoparticles on Al-SBA-15, were used. Pyrolysis experiments were conducted by pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy to determine the catalytic activities of the catalysts used. X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, NH₃- temperature-programmed desorption and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the catalysts. Al-SBA-15 produced higher quality bio-oil than Si-SBA-15 due to its better deoxygenation and cracking performance stemming from the presence of acid sites. Pt/Al-SBA-15 showed the highest oxygenate conversion as well as the largest yield of high-value-added compounds, such as aromatics, low-molecular-mass hydrocarbons and furans.