Low temperature upgrading glucose to aromatics via a H2-free melting-catalysis strategy

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 324; p. 122226
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zhe, Chen, Huan, Pan, Helin, Duan, Dengle, Zhang, Yayun, Long, Donghui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.05.2023
• Subjects: Acidity; Aromatics; Glucose conversion; Low temperature; Mesoporous ZSM-5; Aromatics; Glucose conversion; Mesoporous ZSM-5; Acidity; Low temperature
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.122226

Converting biomass into valuable aromatics is a desirable way to alleviate global energy crisis but is currently challenged by massive energy consumption. Herein, a H2-free melting-catalysis strategy is proposed for direct converting glucose into aromatics under mild conditions by nano-sized mesoporous ZSM-5. We demonstrate that the melting of glucose promotes the accessibility to catalytic sites and enhances subsequent catalytic processes. The introduction of inter-crystalline mesopores facilitates diffusion of molecules, and the moderate acidity favors the deoxygenation of oxygenated intermediates, both of which promote aromatics formation. Consequently, 10-ZSM-5–80 with abundant inter-crystalline mesopores and optimum acidity achieves a maximum aromatics selectivity of 95.4 area% at 280 °C, of which 70.2% are monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Furthermore, a possible mechanism is proposed based on experimental and online TG-FTIR-MS results. Our findings provide a new pathway for the selective generation of aromatics from glucose, which is expected to advance next-generation biomass utilization. [Display omitted] •A low temperature, H2-free melting-catalysis strategy is proposed for converting glucose into aromatics.•The phase change of glucose by melting promotes accessibility to catalytic sites.•ZSM-5 with abundant inter-crystalline mesopores and optimum acidity has the highest activity.•Online TG-FTIR-MS confirms that the reaction proceeds in cascade steps.