Effect of SiO2 pore size on catalytic fast pyrolysis of Jatropha residues by using pyrolyzer-GC/MS

Catalytic fast pyrolysis of Jatropha residue was performed over SiO2 catalysts with different pore sizes (SiO2-Q3, -Q10, -Q30, and -Q50 with pore diameters of 3, 16, 45, and 68 nm, respectively) at 500 °C using a pyrolyzer-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system. SiO2-Q10, which combined weak acidity and medium porosity, was the most effective catalyst in removing oxygenated compounds such as acids, ketones, and aldehydes, which are the principal reason for the polymerization of hydrocarbons from bio-oil, and in inhibiting coke and polycyclic aromatic compound formation. SiO2-Q10 is also useful for stabilizing bio-oil and has potential for catalytic fast pyrolysis.

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► Fast pyrolysis of Jatropha residues was preformed over different pore sizes SiO2.
► Acidity of SiO2 tended to increase with decreasing SiO2 pore size.
► SiO2-Q10 has weak acidity and medium porosity (average pore diameter = 16 nm).
► SiO2-Q10 was most effective in reducing oxygenated compounds included in bio-oil.