High selective hydrocarbon and hydrogen products from catalytic pyrolysis of rice husk: Role of the ordered mesoporous silica derived from rice husk ash for Ni-nanocatalyst performance

• Main Authors: Pham, Le Kim Hoang, Alsaiari, Mabkhoot, Thao, Bui T. Thu, Hieu, Nguyen Huu, Phuc Hoang Duy, Nguyen, Vo, Dai-Viet N., Witoon, Thongthai, Nguyen, Van Cuong, Kongparakul, Suwadee, Samart, Chanatip, Trinh, Thanh H., Al-Gheethi, Adel
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd. 2024
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43131/1/High%20selective%20hydrocarbon%20and%20hydrogen%20products%20from%20catalytic_ABST.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43131/2/High%20selective%20hydrocarbon%20and%20hydrogen%20products%20from%20catalytic%20pyrolysis.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/43131/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2024.106383; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2024.106383

This study successfully synthesized ordered mesoporous silica using a sodium silicate solution derived from high-purity silica extracted from rice husk (98.09%), aiming to catalyst support for integrating fast catalytic upgrading of rice husk. The ordered mesoporous silica, including MCM-41 and KIT-6, were synthesized by co-assembly with additional surfactants, consisting of Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and Pluronic P123, respectively. A series of 10 wt.% Ni on MCM-41 (Ni/HMS1) and KIT-6 (Ni/HMS2) were synthesized via ethylene glycol ultrasound-assisted wetness impregnation, which enhanced bio-oil quality by reducing oxygen compounds. This method also improved NiO reducibility up to 91.41%, with nickel phyllosilicate playing a pivotal role in preventing Ni-metallic sintering during the reduction process. The well-dispersed small Ni particles yielded high Ni performance in deoxygenation. Moreover, the order of pore size and structure of the hexagonal nanochannel structures influenced the selective hydrocarbon products in bio-oil. Ni/HMS1, with smaller pore sizes (3–5 nm), achieved a balanced hydrocarbon composition with aromatic (44.91%) and aliphatic (15.65%) components, while Ni/HMS2, having larger pores (8–10 nm), predominantly contained aromatic hydrocarbons (67.45%). The utilization of a green methodology for extracting high-value silica from biological sources promises to innovate and boost eco-consciousness in all rice husk pyrolysis products.