Catalytic fast pyrolysis of cellulose and biomass to produce levoglucosenone using magnetic SO4(2-)/TiO2-Fe3O4.

Magnetic superacid (SO4(2-)/TiO2-Fe3O4) was prepared for catalytic fast pyrolysis of cellulose and poplar wood to produce levoglucosenone (LGO). Its catalytic activity was evaluated via pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) experiments, and compared with the non-magnetic SO4(2-)/TiO2, phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and sulfur acid (H2SO4) catalysts. Moreover, the LGO yield was quantitatively determined. The results indicated that the magnetic SO4(2-)/TiO2-Fe3O4 was effective to selectively produce LGO from both cellulose and poplar wood. Its catalytic capability was a little better than the non-magnetic SO4(2-)/TiO2 and H3PO4, and much better than the H2SO4. The maximal LGO yields from both cellulose and poplar wood were obtained at 300 °C with the feedstock/catalyst ratio of 1/1, reaching as high as 15.43 wt% from cellulose and 7.06 wt% from poplar wood, respectively.