Catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose in ionic liquid [bmim]OTf

This study discussed the catalytic cracking process of cellulose in ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([bmim]OTF) under 180 °C, 240 °C and 340 °C, found that [bmim]OTF is an effective catalyst which can effectively reduce the pyrolysis temperature(nearly 200 °C) of the cellulose. FRIR, XRD and SEM were used to analyze the structure characterization of fiber before and after the cracking; GC-MS was used for liquid phase products analysis; GC was used to analyze gas phase products. The results showed that the cellulose pyrolysis in [bmim]OTf mainly generated CO2, CO and H2, also generated 2-furfuryl alcohol, 2,5-dimethyl-1,5-diallyl-3-alcohol, 1,4-butyrolactone, 5-methyl furfural, 4-hydroxy butyric acid, vinyl propionate, 1-acetoxyl group-2-butanone, furan formate tetrahydrofuran methyl ester liquid product, and thus simulated the evolution mechanism of cellulose pyrolysis products based on the basic model of cellulose monomer.