Hydrodeoxygenation of 4-Propylguaiacol (2-Methoxy-4-propylphenol) in a Microreactor: Performance and Kinetic Studies

Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of 4-propylguaiacol, a model compound for lignin-derived components of pyrolysis oil, was performed in a packed-bed microreactor. The effects of various processing conditions were investigated using presulfided NiMo/Al 2 O 3 catalyst. The conversion of 4-propylguaiacol is highly influenced by temperature. Although many products were formed, 4-propylphenol predominated under the operating conditions selected with presulfided NiMo catalyst. External and internal mass-transfer resistances and heat-transfer resistance were investigated and found to be negligible. Reaction rate expressions were based on proposed reaction mechanisms using the Langmuir–Hinshelwood approach. Nonlinear regression was performed to obtain kinetic constants. The best-fitting rate equations were further validated by comparing experimental data obtained from an integral reactor with predictions obtained using the Runge–Kutta method based on the rate equations. A difference of less than 10% between the experimental data and the predicted data for the integral reactor was found.