Converting Lignocellulosic Pentosan-Derived Yeast Single Cell Oil into Aromatics: Biomass to Bio-BTX

The ever increasing demand for sustainable energy and chemicals in association with the declining reserve for fossil fuel, are stimulating the search for alternative feedstocks and processes. In this line, the catalytic upgrading of nonedible oils into high-yield commodity chemicals, including saturates and aromatics, has been studied. Yeast single cell oil (SCO) was converted into benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) over a Ga−γ-alumina catalyst, at 450 °C. The yield of aromatics was found to improve with the incorporation of Ga. The physiochemical properties of the catalyst were characterized using different analytical techniques and reaction parameters were optimized using design-of-experiment (DOE). It was observed that the gallium promotes the dehydrogenation activity and results in an overall increase in aromatic yield. Maximum 89.4% conversion of SCO, with aromatic selectivity up to 77.7%, was achieved.