(567b) Role of Competitive Adsorption On Conversion of Bio Oil Surrogate Streams Over Ceria Zirconia and Ni/Ceria Zirconia

A blend of surrogate bio oil model compounds have been converted in the vapor phase over Ceria Zirconia (50:50 molar ratio of Ce:Zr) as well as Ni supported Ceria Zirconia in the presence of atmospheric pressure hydrogen. The surrogate blend consists of water, acetic acid, acetol, furfural, and guaiacol. Each compound was compared both individually as well as in the presence of other species in the mixture to determine the importance of competitive adsorption on the reaction mechanism. Results indicate a strong inhibition of the transalkylation of guaiacol over the reducible oxide by the presence of acetic acid.  This inhibition shifts the guaiacol selectivity dramatically from the production of cresols to the deoxygenation over the metal to produce phenol. Interestingly, the conversion of acetic acid to acetone is not hindered by the presence of guaiacol, indicating that the oxide surface is primarily populated by acetic acid and acetone. The incorporation of Ni significantly altered the product distribution of many of the model species as well, for example the decarbonylation of furfural to produce furan. The shifts in product selectivity arising from the incorporation of Ni as well as the presence of additional species and their resulting adsorption constants will be discussed.