Optimizing catalytic pyrolysis of rubber seed oil for light aromatics and anti-deactivation of ZSM-5

•The bio-oil with high content (78.68%) of BTX (benzene, toluene, and xylenes) is obtained.•The ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis of rubber seed oil is conducted in the self-designed continuous fixed-bed reactor.•The influence of five important parameters on selectivity of BTX is investigated systematically.•Alkali treatment inhibits deactivation of ZSM-5.

The ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis of rubber seed oil (RSO) with ZSM-5 catalyst on fixed bed reactor was conducted. Catalysis temperature, pyrolysis temperature, nitrogen flow rate, and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) were investigated to optimize the conditions for BTX (benzene, toluene, and xylenes). The optimal bio-oil which contained 99.56% total aromatics and 78.68% BTX, was obtained when nitrogen flow rate and WHSV were respectively 150 mL min−1 and 5.48 at catalysis temperature 550 °C and pyrolysis temperature 550 °C. In order to prolong the lifetime of the catalyst, an alkali treatment resulted in enlarged pores of ZSM-5 and inhibited deactivation with slight reduction of BTX in products.