Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytical Effects of Fe Contents on Pyrolysis of Cellulose with Fe₂O₃/SBA-15 Catalysts

In this study mesoporous SBA-15 was synthesized under acidic conditions using triblock copolymer Pluronic P123 as template and tetraethyl orthosilicate as a silica source. SBA-15 was modified by different iron loading (1.8 %, 5 % and 10 %) via post-synthesis impregnation with Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O. The obtained catalysts were characterized using XRD analysis, WDXRF spectroscopy and N₂ adsorption-desorption analysis. Pyrolysis of cellulose with and without the catalyst was investigated using TG-FTIR. It was found that the presence of the synthesized catalysts affects formation of solid residue and significantly alters the composition of the other pyrolysis products. All catalysts considerably reduced the fraction of compounds containing hydroxyl group. Fe (10 %)/SBA-15 exhibited the highest deoxygenation ability. SBA-15 showed the highest catalytic selectivity for synthesis of olefins, while Fe (1.8 %)/SBA-15 showed the highest catalytic selectivity for synthesis of aromatic hydrocarbons.