Catalytic enhancement of MOF-derived Fe@C catalysts in microwave-assisted co-pyrolysis: synergistic integration with bamboo-based pyrolytic char and microwave carbonization

Developing efficient catalysts for microwave-assisted co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastics (BP) is crucial for producing high-value products. This study introduces the design and synthesis of an enhanced Fe@C catalyst using MIL-101(Fe) as the precursor. During precursor preparation, different amounts of bamboo-based pyrolytic char (BC) were incorporated, and both conventional and advanced microwave carbonization techniques were employed to produce the Fe@C catalysts. Simultaneously, various characterization techniques were employed to analyze the physicochemical properties of the catalysts. The catalytic performance of the catalyst was evaluated in the microwave-assisted co-pyrolysis of bamboo and polyethylene, focusing on the distribution of pyrolysis gases and bio-oil products. The results showed that incorporating BC and applying microwave carbonization significantly enhanced the catalyst's selectivity for H2 and aromatic hydrocarbons. Notably, the Fe@C-8BC catalyst achieved the highest H2 content (55.65 vol%) and aromatic hydrocarbon content (28.07 %), with MAHs accounting for 51.8 % of total aromatics. Furthermore, the microwave-carbonized Fe@C catalyst exhibited superior BTEX selectivity, with a BTEX/aromatic ratio of 32.2 %. This study highlights the benefits of integrating BC and advanced microwave carbonization techniques in the preparation of MOF-derived catalysts, providing valuable insights for optimizing co-pyrolysis catalysts and advancing the synthesis of high-value products from waste materials.