Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2026.102455
Hanrui Ma , Guangzhe Zhang , Hongkai Di , Tao Zhang , Yuxin Li , Jingsi Yang , Ruihong Zhao , Jiangze Han , Kunjie Li
This study addresses the dual challenges of tar yield control and CO2 emissions in biomass gasification by developing a composite catalyst derived from converter steel slag. Through KOH activation and Ni impregnation, the optimized 10Ni-A-SS catalyst achieved 87.1 % tar cracking efficiency, increasing hydrogen yield from 232.2 to 576.3 mL/g biomass while retaining a CO2 adsorption capacity of 120.0 mg/(g cat). Characterization results indicated that KOH activation significantly increased the catalyst's specific surface area, with NiO impregnation providing additional active sites. Mechanistic analysis revealed that the catalyst suppressed tar polymerization and polycondensation reactions, redirecting reaction pathways toward phenols and light aromatics, thereby substantially reducing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon formation. This work demonstrates an effective strategy for valorizing industrial steel slag waste while enabling cleaner, hydrogen-rich syngas production from biomass gasification, offering both environmental and economic benefits.
{"title":"Catalytic cracking of biomass gasification tar integrated with carbon fixation over steel slag-based catalyst","authors":"Hanrui Ma , Guangzhe Zhang , Hongkai Di , Tao Zhang , Yuxin Li , Jingsi Yang , Ruihong Zhao , Jiangze Han , Kunjie Li","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102455","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102455","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study addresses the dual challenges of tar yield control and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in biomass gasification by developing a composite catalyst derived from converter steel slag. Through KOH activation and Ni impregnation, the optimized 10Ni-A-SS catalyst achieved 87.1 % tar cracking efficiency, increasing hydrogen yield from 232.2 to 576.3 mL/g biomass while retaining a CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption capacity of 120.0 mg/(g cat). Characterization results indicated that KOH activation significantly increased the catalyst's specific surface area, with NiO impregnation providing additional active sites. Mechanistic analysis revealed that the catalyst suppressed tar polymerization and polycondensation reactions, redirecting reaction pathways toward phenols and light aromatics, thereby substantially reducing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon formation. This work demonstrates an effective strategy for valorizing industrial steel slag waste while enabling cleaner, hydrogen-rich syngas production from biomass gasification, offering both environmental and economic benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 102455"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2026.102466
Duc-Thang Tran , Nguyen-Phuong Nguyen , Thanh-Linh H. Duong , Anh Minh-Nhat Lai , Quang-Long Nguyen , Minh-Tuan Nguyen-Dinh , Tri Nguyen , Hoang-Duy P. Nguyen , Thuy-Phuong T. Pham
Mitigation of CO2 emissions has become a global challenge, and its catalytic conversion to CH4 represents a promising route for carbon utilization as well as renewable fuel production. In this work, a series of Ni/SiO2 catalysts were synthesized via wet impregnation, a modified sol-gel process, and a combined sol-gel/post-impregnation approach to balance embedded and surface Ni species for efficient CO2 methanation. The as-prepared, reduced and spent catalysts were characterized by XRD, N2 physisorption, TEM, H2-TPR, CO2-TPD, H2-TPD and TPO to correlate structural properties with catalytic performance. The Ni-embedded SiO2 catalyst (20Ni-SiO2) exhibited higher BET surface area, uniform mesoporosity, better dispersion and stronger MSI compared to the impregnated 20Ni/SiO2, highlighting the importance of sol-gel incorporation in texture control. Interestingly, CO2-TPD revealed greater CO2 adsorption ability for impregnated Ni species, whereas H2-TPD indicated superior hydrogen dissociation activity for embedded Ni species. Consequently, due to the synergistic contribution of embedded and surface Ni species, the post-impregnated 10Ni/(20Ni-SiO2) catalyst achieved 81.6 % CO2 conversion and 99.5 % CH4 selectivity at 350 °C, outperforming conventional impregnated and sol-gel catalysts. Stability tests and TPO profiles confirm that the 10Ni/(20Ni-SiO2) catalyst maintains efficient performance over 100 h, with only a 5 % decrease in CO2 conversion, negligible change in CH4 selectivity, and excellent resistance to coke formation.
{"title":"Enhanced CO2 methanation over SiO2-supported catalysts with embedded and surface Ni sites","authors":"Duc-Thang Tran , Nguyen-Phuong Nguyen , Thanh-Linh H. Duong , Anh Minh-Nhat Lai , Quang-Long Nguyen , Minh-Tuan Nguyen-Dinh , Tri Nguyen , Hoang-Duy P. Nguyen , Thuy-Phuong T. Pham","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102466","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102466","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mitigation of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions has become a global challenge, and its catalytic conversion to CH<sub>4</sub> represents a promising route for carbon utilization as well as renewable fuel production. In this work, a series of Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub> catalysts were synthesized via wet impregnation, a modified sol-gel process, and a combined sol-gel/post-impregnation approach to balance embedded and surface Ni species for efficient CO<sub>2</sub> methanation. The as-prepared, reduced and spent catalysts were characterized by XRD, N<sub>2</sub> physisorption, TEM, H<sub>2</sub>-TPR, CO<sub>2</sub>-TPD, H<sub>2</sub>-TPD and TPO to correlate structural properties with catalytic performance. The Ni-embedded SiO<sub>2</sub> catalyst (20Ni-SiO<sub>2</sub>) exhibited higher BET surface area, uniform mesoporosity, better dispersion and stronger MSI compared to the impregnated 20Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub>, highlighting the importance of sol-gel incorporation in texture control. Interestingly, CO<sub>2</sub>-TPD revealed greater CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption ability for impregnated Ni species, whereas H<sub>2</sub>-TPD indicated superior hydrogen dissociation activity for embedded Ni species. Consequently, due to the synergistic contribution of embedded and surface Ni species, the post-impregnated 10Ni/(20Ni-SiO<sub>2</sub>) catalyst achieved 81.6 % CO<sub>2</sub> conversion and 99.5 % CH<sub>4</sub> selectivity at 350 °C, outperforming conventional impregnated and sol-gel catalysts. Stability tests and TPO profiles confirm that the 10Ni/(20Ni-SiO<sub>2</sub>) catalyst maintains efficient performance over 100 h, with only a 5 % decrease in CO<sub>2</sub> conversion, negligible change in CH<sub>4</sub> selectivity, and excellent resistance to coke formation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 102466"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biomass sources show great advantages such as large reserves, low CO2 emissions, wide availability and renewability. Combustion for steam/electric power generation was an important route for scale-up energy utilization of biomass sources. Potassium migration and transformation during biomass combustion often caused ash-related issues such as corrosion, fouling, and slagging, which led to great challenges for the long-term and high-efficiency operation of industrial plants. Therefore, a clear understanding of potassium release, transformation, and fixation strategies during biomass combustion based on a systematic review of previous literature is essential. In this review paper, firstly, the actual challenges of biomass combustion and the impacts of potassium release/transformation on industrial plant operation and catalytic performance were elaborated. Then, the occurrence forms, release behavior, and transformation mechanisms of potassium during biomass combustion are thoroughly discussed. Various methods and principles for fixing potassium in ash were summarized in detail, with focusing on the mechanisms, advantages/disadvantages, and applicable conditions of phosphorus/calcium-based additives, aluminosilicate additives, and sulfur-based additives. Lastly, existing research outcomes on fixation strategies are summarized, current research gaps are identified, and future research directions are proposed to provide theoretical support and technical guidance for the efficient and clean utilization of biomass energy.
{"title":"A critical review on potassium release, transformation, and fixation during biomass combustion","authors":"Ziliang Zhang , Jingcheng Zhang , Fenghai Li , Manoj Kumar Jena , Shuaichen Gu , Peng Lv , Guangsuo Yu , Xia Liu , Dengyu Chen , Juntao Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102468","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102468","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biomass sources show great advantages such as large reserves, low CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, wide availability and renewability. Combustion for steam/electric power generation was an important route for scale-up energy utilization of biomass sources. Potassium migration and transformation during biomass combustion often caused ash-related issues such as corrosion, fouling, and slagging, which led to great challenges for the long-term and high-efficiency operation of industrial plants. Therefore, a clear understanding of potassium release, transformation, and fixation strategies during biomass combustion based on a systematic review of previous literature is essential. In this review paper, firstly, the actual challenges of biomass combustion and the impacts of potassium release/transformation on industrial plant operation and catalytic performance were elaborated. Then, the occurrence forms, release behavior, and transformation mechanisms of potassium during biomass combustion are thoroughly discussed. Various methods and principles for fixing potassium in ash were summarized in detail, with focusing on the mechanisms, advantages/disadvantages, and applicable conditions of phosphorus/calcium-based additives, aluminosilicate additives, and sulfur-based additives. Lastly, existing research outcomes on fixation strategies are summarized, current research gaps are identified, and future research directions are proposed to provide theoretical support and technical guidance for the efficient and clean utilization of biomass energy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 102468"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2026.102459
Jianglong Pu, Tianyu Yu, Ning Ai, Hui Wang
Designing efficient and stable catalysts is crucial for sustainable hydrogen production from biomass via steam reforming. A Ni/CeBO3 catalyst with strong metal–support interactions (SMSIs) was synthesized through an insitu co-reduction strategy. The effects of nickel content and thermal treatment were systematically investigated, revealing that calcination is critical for forming crystalline CeBO3 during the reduction process, which governs catalytic performance. SMSIs increase the reduction temperature required for Ni0 activation, while higher Ni loading or reduction temperature induces a structural transition from monoclinic (m-) to orthorhombic (o-) CeBO3. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that Ni4 clusters on m-CeBO3 exhibit favorable adsorption geometries and higher reactivity, whereas o-CeBO3 supports generate inert configurations. Catalysts supported on m-CeBO3 show enhanced coke resistance and suppressed acetone formation. Maintaining Ni0 exposure and preserving the m-CeBO3 phase are therefore essential for high activity, achievable by controlling reduction temperature and Ni loading. The optimized 20Ni/CeBO3-600 catalyst retains the m-phase and delivers stable hydrogen production with <3 % decline over 60 h, performing efficiently under low reaction temperatures and steam-to-carbon ratios. These findings clarify the role of m-CeBO3 and provide mechanistic insight for rational design of high-performance catalysts in biomass-to-hydrogen conversion.
{"title":"Phase-controlled CeBO3 supports for Ni-based catalysts: DFT and experimental insights into structure–reactivity relationships in acetic acid steam reforming","authors":"Jianglong Pu, Tianyu Yu, Ning Ai, Hui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102459","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102459","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Designing efficient and stable catalysts is crucial for sustainable hydrogen production from biomass via steam reforming. A Ni/CeBO<sub>3</sub> catalyst with strong metal–support interactions (SMSIs) was synthesized through an <em>in</em> <em>situ</em> co-reduction strategy. The effects of nickel content and thermal treatment were systematically investigated, revealing that calcination is critical for forming crystalline CeBO<sub>3</sub> during the reduction process, which governs catalytic performance. SMSIs increase the reduction temperature required for Ni<sup>0</sup> activation, while higher Ni loading or reduction temperature induces a structural transition from monoclinic (m-) to orthorhombic (o-) CeBO<sub>3</sub>. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that Ni<sub>4</sub> clusters on m-CeBO<sub>3</sub> exhibit favorable adsorption geometries and higher reactivity, whereas o-CeBO<sub>3</sub> supports generate inert configurations. Catalysts supported on m-CeBO<sub>3</sub> show enhanced coke resistance and suppressed acetone formation. Maintaining Ni<sup>0</sup> exposure and preserving the m-CeBO<sub>3</sub> phase are therefore essential for high activity, achievable by controlling reduction temperature and Ni loading. The optimized 20Ni/CeBO<sub>3</sub>-600 catalyst retains the m-phase and delivers stable hydrogen production with <3 % decline over 60 h, performing efficiently under low reaction temperatures and steam-to-carbon ratios. These findings clarify the role of m-CeBO<sub>3</sub> and provide mechanistic insight for rational design of high-performance catalysts in biomass-to-hydrogen conversion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 102459"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2026.102449
Ijaz Hussain , Gazali Tanimu , Niladri Maity , Khalid Alhooshani , Saheed Ganiyu , Abdullah Aitani , Mohammad Alalouni , Mohammad Aljishi , Emad N. Al-Shafei
The pressing urge to address climate change and reduce atmospheric CO2 levels has driven significant research into CO2 conversion technologies. Among these, the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction presents a promising pathway for transforming CO2 into CO, which can subsequently be utilized in syngas conversion processes to generate valuable chemicals and fuels. However, the RWGS reaction faces challenges related to its moderate endothermic nature and competition with the highly exothermic CO2 methanation reaction at low temperatures. Enhancing low-temperature reaction efficiency and CO selectivity remains a critical focus in catalyst development. This review paper explores novel developments in diverse catalyst materials and presents practical insights into thermocatalytic pathways for the RWGS reaction. Emerging strategies for improving CO2 conversion efficiency, CO selectivity, and energy utilization are explored. Additionally, reactor designs, operational parameters, and their integration with other processes are analyzed to enhance overall process performance. A techno-economic assessment is presented, highlighting the feasibility and potential impacts of these advancements, along with recommendations for future research directions. This work underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to overcome existing challenges and realize the full potential of RWGS technologies for sustainable CO2 utilization.
{"title":"Sustainable thermocatalytic conversion of CO2 to fuels and chemicals via reverse water-gas shift reactions for carbon neutrality","authors":"Ijaz Hussain , Gazali Tanimu , Niladri Maity , Khalid Alhooshani , Saheed Ganiyu , Abdullah Aitani , Mohammad Alalouni , Mohammad Aljishi , Emad N. Al-Shafei","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102449","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102449","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The pressing urge to address climate change and reduce atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> levels has driven significant research into CO<sub>2</sub> conversion technologies. Among these, the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction presents a promising pathway for transforming CO<sub>2</sub> into CO, which can subsequently be utilized in syngas conversion processes to generate valuable chemicals and fuels. However, the RWGS reaction faces challenges related to its moderate endothermic nature and competition with the highly exothermic CO<sub>2</sub> methanation reaction at low temperatures. Enhancing low-temperature reaction efficiency and CO selectivity remains a critical focus in catalyst development. This review paper explores novel developments in diverse catalyst materials and presents practical insights into thermocatalytic pathways for the RWGS reaction. Emerging strategies for improving CO<sub>2</sub> conversion efficiency, CO selectivity, and energy utilization are explored. Additionally, reactor designs, operational parameters, and their integration with other processes are analyzed to enhance overall process performance. A techno-economic assessment is presented, highlighting the feasibility and potential impacts of these advancements, along with recommendations for future research directions. This work underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to overcome existing challenges and realize the full potential of RWGS technologies for sustainable CO<sub>2</sub> utilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 102449"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2026.102452
Fahui Wang , Yan Guo , Dan Zhang , Huolong Chen , Zihan Liu , Jun Zhao
Ammonia (NH3) blended with syngas offers a promising strategy for enhancing its combustion performance. However, the practical application of such fuel blends is frequently constrained by variations in the H2/CO ratio. This study combines an integrated experimental and numerical approach, incorporating both global and local sensitivity analyses, to elucidate how the H2/CO ratio affects the laminar burning velocity (SL) and flame instability of NH3/H2/CO blends. The results reveal that variations in SL are predominantly governed by chemical kinetic effects, which weaken as the equivalence ratio (Ф) increases. This behavior is affected by the competition among CO oxidation reactions, H radical consumption pathways, and third-body (H2O) termination reactions, in which both H and OH radicals play critical roles. Regarding the variation in flame instability with the H2/CO ratio, it is primarily governed by thermal diffusive instability and flame thickness effects. As the Ф changes, thermal diffusive dominates under fuel-lean conditions, whereas both thermal diffusive and the thermal expansion ratio collectively dominate flame instability under fuel-rich conditions. When considering the combined effects of pressure and temperature, it is observed that an increased H2/CO ratio markedly enhances the pressure dependence of NH3/H2/CO flames, whereas its influence on temperature dependence remains relatively limited. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of NH3-based fuels in combustion systems.
{"title":"Mechanistic investigation of H2/CO ratio on laminar flame characteristics of NH3/syngas blends","authors":"Fahui Wang , Yan Guo , Dan Zhang , Huolong Chen , Zihan Liu , Jun Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102452","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102452","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) blended with syngas offers a promising strategy for enhancing its combustion performance. However, the practical application of such fuel blends is frequently constrained by variations in the H<sub>2</sub>/CO ratio. This study combines an integrated experimental and numerical approach, incorporating both global and local sensitivity analyses, to elucidate how the H<sub>2</sub>/CO ratio affects the laminar burning velocity (<em>S</em><sub><em>L</em></sub>) and flame instability of NH<sub>3</sub>/H<sub>2</sub>/CO blends. The results reveal that variations in <em>S</em><sub><em>L</em></sub> are predominantly governed by chemical kinetic effects, which weaken as the equivalence ratio (Ф) increases. This behavior is affected by the competition among CO oxidation reactions, H radical consumption pathways, and third-body (H<sub>2</sub>O) termination reactions, in which both H and OH radicals play critical roles. Regarding the variation in flame instability with the H<sub>2</sub>/CO ratio, it is primarily governed by thermal diffusive instability and flame thickness effects. As the Ф changes, thermal diffusive dominates under fuel-lean conditions, whereas both thermal diffusive and the thermal expansion ratio collectively dominate flame instability under fuel-rich conditions. When considering the combined effects of pressure and temperature, it is observed that an increased H<sub>2</sub>/CO ratio markedly enhances the pressure dependence of NH<sub>3</sub>/H<sub>2</sub>/CO flames, whereas its influence on temperature dependence remains relatively limited. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of NH<sub>3</sub>-based fuels in combustion systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 102452"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2026.102444
Jinling Li , Geyu Wu , Fang Miao , Bo Yang , Chengtun Qu , Tao Yu , Feng Zhang
As an inevitable by-product of petroleum production, oily sludge poses significant environmental risks and considerable resource potential. To improve the utilization of oily sludge and reduce its environmental impact, the effects of CaO on the pyrolysis behavior and product characteristics of simulated oily sludge were studied using thermogravimetric analysis and a fixed-bed reactor. The special attention was focused on the migration and transformation of sulfur and nitrogen during the pyrolysis process. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters derived from the Starink, FWO, and KAS methods showed that CaO reduced the activation energy of the process. Both ΔH and ΔG increased with the conversion degree (α) and were positive, while ΔS changed from negative to positive, and all of them suggested that the reaction activity was enhanced. With the increase of CaO addition, the yield of char increased, whereas the yields of oil and gas decreased. At an addition of 8 wt% CaO, the maximum of aromatic hydrocarbons was 16.45 %, and the relative contents of H2, CO, and CH4 in the gas phase were 18.60 vol%, 1.68 vol%, and 26.87 vol%, respectively. During the pyrolysis, CaO interacted with H2S, SO2, and other S species, forming CaS, some amounts of CaSO3, and CaSO4 to immobilize sulfur in char and reduce its release into the gas phase. On the contrary, the distribution of nitrogen in char, oil, and gas only had a slight change, as CaO primarily facilitated the interconversion of N-containing species without demonstrating strong N-fixing capabilities.
{"title":"Effect of CaO on the product distribution and S/N migration and transformation during oily sludge pyrolysis","authors":"Jinling Li , Geyu Wu , Fang Miao , Bo Yang , Chengtun Qu , Tao Yu , Feng Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102444","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102444","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As an inevitable by-product of petroleum production, oily sludge poses significant environmental risks and considerable resource potential. To improve the utilization of oily sludge and reduce its environmental impact, the effects of CaO on the pyrolysis behavior and product characteristics of simulated oily sludge were studied using thermogravimetric analysis and a fixed-bed reactor. The special attention was focused on the migration and transformation of sulfur and nitrogen during the pyrolysis process. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters derived from the Starink, FWO, and KAS methods showed that CaO reduced the activation energy of the process. Both <em>ΔH</em> and <em>ΔG</em> increased with the conversion degree (<em>α</em>) and were positive, while <em>ΔS</em> changed from negative to positive, and all of them suggested that the reaction activity was enhanced. With the increase of CaO addition, the yield of char increased, whereas the yields of oil and gas decreased. At an addition of 8 wt% CaO, the maximum of aromatic hydrocarbons was 16.45 %, and the relative contents of H<sub>2</sub>, CO, and CH<sub>4</sub> in the gas phase were 18.60 vol%, 1.68 vol%, and 26.87 vol%, respectively. During the pyrolysis, CaO interacted with H<sub>2</sub>S, SO<sub>2</sub>, and other S species, forming CaS, some amounts of CaSO<sub>3,</sub> and CaSO<sub>4</sub> to immobilize sulfur in char and reduce its release into the gas phase. On the contrary, the distribution of nitrogen in char, oil, and gas only had a slight change, as CaO primarily facilitated the interconversion of N-containing species without demonstrating strong N-fixing capabilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 102444"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In this work, the co-pyrolysis of hemicellulose and lignin for production of biochar, bio-oil and gaseous products showed interactions between both the components. These interactions were identified by comparing the actual values of product yields with RSM-predicted values derived from individual component pyrolysis. The experiments were designed using response surface methodology (RSM), with co-pyrolysis factors that included temperature (400 – 800 °C), time (5 – 30 min), and hemicellulose percentage (0 – 100%). The results indicated that the co-pyrolysis interactions promoted biochar yield, driven primarily by temperature and residence time. For bio-oil yield, the interaction was temperature-dependent; high temperatures (700–800 °C) combined with optimized residence time enhanced yields. Similarly, the total gas yield was maximized at 600 °C through interaction regulation. In addition, the co-pyrolysis interactions increased the H2 yield while decreasing the CH4 yield and the HHV of the gas. RSM optimization identified the optimal conditions for maximizing biochar, bio-oil, CO + H2, and gas HHV, with predictions agreeing with experiments (<2% deviation), confirming the model's reliability. DFT calculations revealed the reaction pathways of 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol decomposition to gaseous products. The combination of RSM and DFT enabled the process design and precise mechanistic analysis of gas products from the co-pyrolysis of hemicellulose and lignin in an efficient manner.
{"title":"Impact of hemicellulose–lignin co-pyrolysis interactions on biochar, bio-oil, gas yields, and gas composition: A response surface methodology study","authors":"Xiaoran Li, Kehui Cen, Jinjin Li, Li Qiu, Xiao Yang, Dengyu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102472","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, the co-pyrolysis of hemicellulose and lignin for production of biochar, bio-oil and gaseous products showed interactions between both the components. These interactions were identified by comparing the actual values of product yields with RSM-predicted values derived from individual component pyrolysis. The experiments were designed using response surface methodology (RSM), with co-pyrolysis factors that included temperature (400 – 800 °C), time (5 – 30 min), and hemicellulose percentage (0 – 100%). The results indicated that the co-pyrolysis interactions promoted biochar yield, driven primarily by temperature and residence time. For bio-oil yield, the interaction was temperature-dependent; high temperatures (700–800 °C) combined with optimized residence time enhanced yields. Similarly, the total gas yield was maximized at 600 °C through interaction regulation. In addition, the co-pyrolysis interactions increased the H<sub>2</sub> yield while decreasing the CH<sub>4</sub> yield and the HHV of the gas. RSM optimization identified the optimal conditions for maximizing biochar, bio-oil, CO + H<sub>2</sub>, and gas HHV, with predictions agreeing with experiments (<2% deviation), confirming the model's reliability. DFT calculations revealed the reaction pathways of 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol decomposition to gaseous products. The combination of RSM and DFT enabled the process design and precise mechanistic analysis of gas products from the co-pyrolysis of hemicellulose and lignin in an efficient manner.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 102472"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2026.102451
Cheng-Du Guan , Yong-Chao Qi , Zhong-Hao Jiang , Ai-Min Wang , Ni Bai , Jin-Zhong Chen , Ai-Rong Mao , Zi-Long Zhao , Lin Lang , Jian Wei , Jin-Xi Wang , Jin-Jun Bai
The production of hydrocarbon-rich oil from low-rank coal via catalytic hydrocracking holds significant potential for applications in fuel production, chemical feedstock, and energy storage and conversion. However, enhancing the yield of derived oil while maximizing heteroatom removal to increase the proportion of hydrocarbons remains a major challenge. To address this, we developed a magnetic Zr@Co/C600 catalyst with a core-shell structure, where ZIF-67-derived cobalt is uniformly dispersed on a nitrogen-doped porous carbon matrix as the core, and ZrO2 serves as the protective shell. This catalyst exhibits a high specific surface area, well-defined mesoporous architecture, abundant acid sites (particularly strong acidic sites), and multiple active species containing nitrogen, oxygen, and cobalt. It demonstrates superior performance in cleaving > C–O– bridge bonds and removing heteroatoms. Moreover, the core-shell design effectively prevents the aggregation and leaching of active components, ensuring structural stability and sustained catalytic activity over five reuse cycles. DFT calculations reveal the energy barriers associated with the transition states of benzyloxybenzene reactions involving various active hydrogen species, offering theoretical support for elucidating the catalytic hydrogenation reaction mechanism. When applied to the catalytic hydrocracking of Xiwan subbituminous coal, the Zr@Co/C600 catalyst increases the yield of soluble products from 10.4 wt% (non-catalytic) to 19.8 wt%. Furthermore, the relative contents of arenes and alkanes in the light oil fraction rise from 45.8 % to 57.9 % and from 20.5 % to 23.0 %, respectively, while those of arenols and other heteroatom-containing compounds decrease significantly.
{"title":"Hydrocarbon-rich oils from subbituminous coal via facilitated hydrocracking over a tailored Zr@Co/C600 core-shell catalyst","authors":"Cheng-Du Guan , Yong-Chao Qi , Zhong-Hao Jiang , Ai-Min Wang , Ni Bai , Jin-Zhong Chen , Ai-Rong Mao , Zi-Long Zhao , Lin Lang , Jian Wei , Jin-Xi Wang , Jin-Jun Bai","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102451","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102451","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The production of hydrocarbon-rich oil from low-rank coal via catalytic hydrocracking holds significant potential for applications in fuel production, chemical feedstock, and energy storage and conversion. However, enhancing the yield of derived oil while maximizing heteroatom removal to increase the proportion of hydrocarbons remains a major challenge. To address this, we developed a magnetic Zr@Co/C<sub>600</sub> catalyst with a core-shell structure, where ZIF-67-derived cobalt is uniformly dispersed on a nitrogen-doped porous carbon matrix as the core, and ZrO<sub>2</sub> serves as the protective shell. This catalyst exhibits a high specific surface area, well-defined mesoporous architecture, abundant acid sites (particularly strong acidic sites), and multiple active species containing nitrogen, oxygen, and cobalt. It demonstrates superior performance in cleaving > C–O– bridge bonds and removing heteroatoms. Moreover, the core-shell design effectively prevents the aggregation and leaching of active components, ensuring structural stability and sustained catalytic activity over five reuse cycles. DFT calculations reveal the energy barriers associated with the transition states of benzyloxybenzene reactions involving various active hydrogen species, offering theoretical support for elucidating the catalytic hydrogenation reaction mechanism. When applied to the catalytic hydrocracking of Xiwan subbituminous coal, the Zr@Co/C<sub>600</sub> catalyst increases the yield of soluble products from 10.4 wt% (non-catalytic) to 19.8 wt%. Furthermore, the relative contents of arenes and alkanes in the light oil fraction rise from 45.8 % to 57.9 % and from 20.5 % to 23.0 %, respectively, while those of arenols and other heteroatom-containing compounds decrease significantly.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 102451"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2026.102450
Chenglong Wen , Yongpeng Yang , Weihong Zhang , Jundong Xu , Jian Li , Mohong Lu , Xiaosong Lu
Cyclohexanol is extensively utilized in the production of nylon, solvents, plasticizers, and pharmaceuticals. The hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of renewable biomass to synthesize cyclohexanol (CAL) offers a highly promising and sustainable route. In this work, a series of CeO2-doped Ni/NC catalysts (Ni/CeO2-NC) were prepared via a co-impregnation method to catalyze guaiacol HDO to CAL. The Ni/CeO2-NC catalysts possess abundant oxygen vacancies and a reduced Ni particle size in comparison to Ni/NC, which is attributed to the incorporation of Ce. These structural advantages thereby facilitate the adsorption and removal of oxygen-containing functional groups during reaction. Among these catalysts, Ni/CeO2-NC with 20 wt% CeO2 (Ni/20CeO2-NC) presents the highest CAL yield of 95.5 % in guaiacol HDO at 240 °C, 2 MPa, 1 h−1, and an H2 flow rate of 80 mL/min. Furthermore, Ni/20CeO2-NC exhibits the excellent catalytic stability of guaiacol HDO.
{"title":"Synthesis of CeO2-doped Ni/NC catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol","authors":"Chenglong Wen , Yongpeng Yang , Weihong Zhang , Jundong Xu , Jian Li , Mohong Lu , Xiaosong Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102450","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joei.2026.102450","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cyclohexanol is extensively utilized in the production of nylon, solvents, plasticizers, and pharmaceuticals. The hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of renewable biomass to synthesize cyclohexanol (CAL) offers a highly promising and sustainable route. In this work, a series of CeO<sub>2</sub>-doped Ni/NC catalysts (Ni/CeO<sub>2</sub>-NC) were prepared via a co-impregnation method to catalyze guaiacol HDO to CAL. The Ni/CeO<sub>2</sub>-NC catalysts possess abundant oxygen vacancies and a reduced Ni particle size in comparison to Ni/NC, which is attributed to the incorporation of Ce. These structural advantages thereby facilitate the adsorption and removal of oxygen-containing functional groups during reaction. Among these catalysts, Ni/CeO<sub>2</sub>-NC with 20 wt% CeO<sub>2</sub> (Ni/20CeO<sub>2</sub>-NC) presents the highest CAL yield of 95.5 % in guaiacol HDO at 240 °C, 2 MPa, 1 h<sup>−1</sup>, and an H<sub>2</sub> flow rate of 80 mL/min. Furthermore, Ni/20CeO<sub>2</sub>-NC exhibits the excellent catalytic stability of guaiacol HDO.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17287,"journal":{"name":"Journal of The Energy Institute","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 102450"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号