Iron Oxide Catalyst for Biomass Pyrolysis Process

In this paper, a catalytic system based on a mixture of iron oxides obtained from an iron-containing sludge is studied for the processes of hydrogenolysis of biomass pyrolysis products. Terpenes and Sosnovsky hogweed were used as model raw materials. The effect of an iron oxide catalyst on the composition of liquid and gas pyrolysis products is analyzed. The textural and phase characteristics of the catalyst, as well as its activity in the processes of catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons, are investigated. Experimental studies have shown that the proposed iron oxide catalyst promotes efficient hydrogenolysis of hydrocarbons, providing their partial destructive hydrogenation and isomerization. The observed rate constants of pyrolysis gases conversion have been determined, and the main products of hydrogenolysis have been identified. A comparative analysis of the chemical composition of pyrolysis products in the presence and absence of a catalyst has been carried out. It has been established that in a reducing medium, iron (II) oxides have a significant effect on the composition of pyrolysis products, contributing to an increase in the degree of conversion of hydrocarbons and the formation of a narrow distribution of final compounds. The analysis of X-ray and scanning electron microscopic data confirmed the stability of the phase composition of the catalyst at temperatures up to 500 °C. Additionally, it was revealed that one of the pyrolysis products of Sosnovsky hogweed is a carbon material with a developed structure, having a relatively high specific surface area and porosity. An analysis of the morphology of the obtained material allowed us to conclude that it is potentially suitable for use as an adsorbent or a catalyst carrier. The results obtained can be useful for the further development of biomass processing methods aimed at the selective production of valuable chemical compounds, as well as for the development of new catalysts based on iron-containing waste used in industrial processes of hydrogenolysis and pyrolysis. For citation: Dang Tran Tho, Le Thi Mai Huong, Smirnova O.P., Afineevskii A.V., Smirnov D.V., Gordina N.E., Prozorov D.A. Iron oxide catalyst for biomass pyrolysis process. ChemChemTech Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved. Khim. Khim. Tekhnol.. 2025. V. 68. N 10. P. 109-116. DOI: 10.6060/ivkkt.20256810.7244.