Probing the behaviour of lignin derived monomers in catalytic zeolite systems

Context:
The demand for sustainable chemicals and fuels has led to significant research into finding alternative feedstocks to
replace crude oil in existing petroleum refineries. Most chemicals and fuels come from the fluid catalytic cracking of
crude oil via zeolitic catalysts. Biomass components and their derivatives have potential to generate these platform
chemicals and fuels using the current petroleum refinery infrastructure with tailored zeolites. The main biomass
reagent which will be investigated includes lignin due to its abundance and the lack of effective catalysts in
converting it after its depolymerisation.
Aim:
Improving zeolite catalysis of the conversion of depolymerised lignin products to useful platform chemicals and fuels.
Objectives:
Probing the behaviours of depolymerised lignin molecules such as diffusion, and rotation in zeolite pores and their
adsorption to acidic sites within the zeolite. This will be done mainly through molecular modelling and neutron
scattering experiments at ISIS.
Changing zeolite parameters and potentially reaction conditions to improve the desired yield and reducing coke
deposition through optimisation of lignin molecule diffusion and adsorption.
Potential applications:
Platform chemicals and fuel production replacing the current fluid catalytic cracking process which uses a crude oil
feedstock.
Benefits of this research: Biomass is a renewable, available and releases less carbon dioxide compared to crude oil
feedstocks which are limited and contribute to carbon dioxide emission.
Relevance to the research council:
The research is hence relevant to the science and technology facilities council goals for the advancement of
education through research.
Supervisor roles:
Dr Alexander O'Malley is the main supervisor at the University of Bath who will have a big role in direction of the
project and help with molecular dynamic studies. The second supervisor Dr Asel Sartbaeva at the University of Bath
has expertise i n zeolites will have a small contribution to the project. The main supervisor affiliated with ISIS, part of
the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is Dr Jeff Armstrong who is a neutron spectroscopy scientist
who will have a large role in helping me with the neutron spectroscopy techniques I will be using and any quantum
mechanical modelling that will be done.