Thermal conversion of flax shives in sub-and supercritical ethanol in the presence of ru/c catalyst

Abstract

Thermal conversion of flax shives was studied in sub-and supercritical ethanol medium at 225 and 250◦C in the presence of the bifunctional catalyst 3% Ru/C. The use of 3% Ru/C catalyst in the process of thermal conversion of flax shives in supercritical ethanol was found to increase the conversion of the shives by 27% and the yield of liquid products by 10%. The use of 3% Ru/C catalyst in sub-and supercritical ethanol led to the destruction of both lignin and cellulose. The degree of delignification in the non-catalytic thermal conversion increased upon transition from subcritical (225◦C) to supercritical (250◦C) conditions. Main monomeric products of the thermal conversion process were guaiacylpropene or guaiacylpropane depending on the process temperature. In the presence of Ru/C catalyst, the molecular weight distribution was shifted towards an increase in the content of monomeric compounds in the liquid products.