Augmenting levoglucosan production through catalytic pyrolysis of biomass exploiting Ti3C2Tx MXene

To address the pressing global need for carbon-neutral fuels, optimizing the conversion of biomass to bio-oil (bio-chemicals) is crucial. Here, we introduce MXene (Ti3C2Tx) as an innovative catalyst in biomass pyrolysis, exhibiting significant prowess in boosting levoglucosan yields. Py-GC/MS analysis indicated a remarkable 438% enhancement in levoglucosan yield when a 5 wt% catalyst-to-biomass ratio was employed. Laboratory-scale studies achieved an impressive 13.95 wt% levoglucosan in ex-situ fixed-bed catalytic pyrolysis, a yield that is 19.6 times higher than that from pure biomass at 40 wt% catalyst loading. Recycling evaluations affirm the robust stability of the MXene catalyst, validating its potential for multiple use cycles in eco-friendly industrial levoglucosan production.