Online investigation on catalytic co-pyrolysis of cellulose and polyethylene over magnesium oxide by advanced mass spectrometry.

[Display omitted] • The catalytic co-pyrolysis of cellulose and PE over MgO was studied by TG/PI-TOF-MS. • The TG, mass spectra, and the temperature-evolved profiles were obtained. • The interaction of the feedstocks was observed during the catalytic co-pyrolysis. • TG/PI-TOF-MS is a powerful approach to study catalytic co-pyrolysis process. Due to rapid deactivation of catalysts, the effective conversion of biomass with oxygen-rich and hydrogen-deficient characteristics to transportation fuels and high-valued chemicals via catalytic pyrolysis remains a challenge for commercialization. Hydrogen-rich plastic is used as feedstock co-fed with biomass to improve the catalytic pyrolysis process. The present work aims to investigate the co-pyrolysis process of cellulose and polyethylene (PE) over MgO by TG combined with photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PI-TOF-MS), which features on-line detection of catalytic pyrolysis products in real time. The MgO catalyst could improve the pyrolysis of cellulose and enhance the C C bond breaking of PE, respectively. During catalytic co-pyrolysis, the yields from olefins and furan as well as its derivatives can be enhanced obviously. Further, the formation of additional aromatics can be observed due to the Diels-Alder reaction. This work shows TG coupled to PI-TOF-MS is a powerful setup to study and optimize catalytic co-pyrolysis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]