Public defence in Chemical Engineering Catalysis, M. Sc. (Tech.) José Luis González Escobedo

Title of the thesis: Hydrodeoxygenation of lignocellulose-related compounds with supported noble-metal catalysts

Doctoral researcher: M. Sc. (Tech.) José Luis González Escobedo 
Opponent: Professor Harry Bitter, University of Wageningen, Netherlands
Custos: Professor Riikka L. Puurunen, Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering

How noble metals can help to convert chemicals obtained from woody biomass into fuel-like chemicals

Woody plant-based materials (lignocellulose) are a potential raw material for the 
sustainable production of transportation fuels. Catalysts are materials that facilitate 
the conversion of one chemical into another. Therefore, catalysts play a key role in 
the sustainable production of fuels. This work sheds light on the effect of different 
noble-metal catalysts in the conversion of organic chemicals representing 
lignocellulose derivatives into fuel-like chemicals.

The work was divided into two cases, in which it was studied how noble metal 
catalysts under hydrogen atmosphere converted two different organic chemicals: 
levulinic acid dimers and alkylphenols. Both chemicals represent intermediate stages 
of lignocellulose conversion. 

The study of levulinic acid dimers was among the first of its kind, and it revealed the 
tendency of the dimers to break down at high temperature. The noble-metal catalysts were not able to fully convert the dimers into fuel-like chemicals, as numerous 
chemical reactions took place simultaneously. The research highlights the need to 
find catalyst that work effectively at low temperatures. 

The study on alkylphenols found that the noble metal platinum can be dispersed onto 
a niobium oxide material (niobia) to fine tune the platinum’s ability to convert the 
phenols into valuable aromatic hydrocarbons. This niobia-supported platinum catalyst 
was able to completely suppress side reactions that would produce unwanted 
oxygenated products. Lignocellulose-based aromatics can potentially find application 
in aviation biofuels. 

→Thesis available for public display 10 days prior to the defence

Yhteystiedot:
M. Sc. (Tech.) José Luis González Escobedo
[email protected]

→Doctoral thesis in the School of Chemical Engineering

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