Catalytic cracking of rosin over acid-activated montmorillonite catalysts

•The cracking of biorenewable rosin over acid-activated clay was studied.•Acid-activated clay was an effective catalyst for the decarboxylation of rosin.•The main component in the non-essential oil and essential oil was C13 compounds.•The moderate acidity was responsible for the decarboxylation of rosin.

A series of acid-activated montmorillonite were prepared and evaluated as catalysts for the catalytic cracking of rosin. All the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nitrogen adsorption–desorption, temperature-programmed desorption of NH3 (NH3-TPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal analysis (TGA-DSC). Their catalytic performances were evaluated by the cracking of rosin in a batch reactor. The experimental results showed that acid-activated montmorillonite catalysts were active in the catalytic cracking of rosin. The acidic value of the non-essential oil products significantly declined from 163.05 mg/g to 0.43 mg/g and the main component in the non-essential oil and essential oil was the C13 compound. The acid treatment of montmorillonite improved the specific surface area and the amount of surface SiOH2+ groups. The moderate (Brönsted) acidity on the acid-activated montmorillonite might be responsible for the cracking of rosin.

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