One pot direct catalytic conversion of cellulose to C₃ and C₄ hydrocarbons using Pt/H-USY zeolite catalyst at low temperature

One-pot direct catalytic conversion of cellulose to light hydrocarbon at low temperature (443 K) in the presence of Pt-zeolite catalysts and water was investigated. Results revealed that Pt supported on H⁺-form ultra stable Y-type (H-USY) zeolite catalyst (Pt/H-USY) enabled direct conversion of cellulose into C₃ and C₄ hydrocarbons without hydrogen and other expensive reagents. This production trend is attributable to the bifunctional catalysis of supported Pt and acid site in H-USY zeolite, which has a large pore system and effective acidity. Results revealed that the pre-treatment of catalyst was important for selective olefin production. Air-oxidized Pt/H-USY catalyst showed higher olefin selectivity than the catalyst reduced with hydrogen. The Pt/H-USY catalysts showed high stability under the reaction condition. Results suggest that C₅ sugars were the reaction intermediate for the C₃ hydrocarbons, and C₆ sugars were the intermediate for C₄ hydrocarbon formation from cellulose over Pt/H-USY catalysts.