Production of aromatic compounds from catalytic fast pyrolysis of Jatropha residues using metal/HZSM-5 prepared by ion-exchange and impregnation methods

• Metal/zeolite catalysts were successfully prepared by ion-exchange and wet impregnation techniques.
• Pyrolysis of Jatropha residues with metal/HZSM-5 was investigated by using an analytical pyrolysis-GC/MS.
• High content of catalyst had an effect on the production of hydrocarbons, and the reduction of oxygenates and nitrogenates.
• Metal/HZSM-5 from both preparation methods enhanced greatly MAHs selectivity, especially BTX.

Metal based-zeolite catalysts were successfully prepared by two different methods including ion-exchange and wet impregnation. HZSM-5 synthesized by hydrothermal method at 160 °C was used as a support for loading metals including Co, Ni, Mo, Ga and Pd. The metal/HZSM-5 had surface area and pore size of 530–677 m2/g and 22.9-26.0 Å. Non- and catalytic fast pyrolysis of Jatropha residues using metal/HZSM-5 were studied using an analytical pyrolysis-GC/MS at 500 °C. Non-catalytic pyrolysis vapors contained primarily high levels acid (50.7%), N-containing compounds (20.3%), other oxygenated compounds including ketones, alcohols, esters, ethers, phenols and sugars (25.0%), while generated small amount of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons of 3.0% and 1.0%. The addition of synthesized metal/HZSM-5 improved the aromatic selectivity up to 91–97% and decreased the undesirable oxygenated (0.6–4.0%) and N-containing compounds (1.8–4.6%). The aromatic selectivity produced by metal-ion exchanged catalysts was slightly higher than that produced by impregnated ones. At high catalyst content (biomass to catalyst ratio of 1:10), Mo/HZSM-5 showed the highest aromatic selectivity of 97% for ion-exchanged catalysts and Ga/HZSM-5 revealed the highest aromatics of 95% for impregnated catalysts. The formation of aromatic compounds could be beneficial to improve calorific values of bio-oils. The presence of metal/HZSM-5 from both preparation methods greatly enhanced MAHs selectivity including benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX), while substantially reduced unfavorable PAHs such as napthalenes.