Effects of steam to enhance the production of light olefins from ex-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass

Abstract This study aims to report on the feasibility of enhancing light olefins production from ex-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) of biomass by co-feeding with steam and determine the role of steam. Effects of steam on catalyst and pyrolysis/catalysis reactions in ex-situ CFP were investigated using a two-stage fluidized-bed/fixed-bed reactor. Carbon yield of olefins + monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) increased by 23.80% after proper steam dealumination of HZSM-5 framework, which suggests that HZSM-5 can be activated at the initial exposure to steam. For activated HZSM-5, olefins carbon yield increased by 35.65% and olefins to MAHs (O/M) ratio boosted from 0.83 to 1.60 as steam concentration in carrier gas increased from 0% to 40%, while the total carbon yield of olefins and MAHs still kept at the same level. Steam enhanced olefins production by: (1) promoting the formation of light compounds in bio-oil, which are the main precursors of hydrocarbons, during pyrolysis; (2) inhibiting aromatization reactions during catalysis. It provides a possibility for the control of O/M ratio of hydrocarbon products and the enhancement of light olefins production from CFP of biomass.