Catalytically transforming cellulose into methane under natural solar irradiation

Abstract

The efficient utilization of natural energy such as solar and biomass energies is significant to the sustainable development of modern society. This work develops a solvent-free catalytic system to efficiently convert cellulose and even natural corn straw to methane with more than 90% yields and carbon balance. This green and sustainable transformation can be achieved under solar irradiation with the assistance of a photo-thermal transform tube and collecting mirror, enabling a transformation of photosynthesized carbon (cellulose) to industrial carbon (CH₄). The advantages such as solvent-free conditions and the major methane product make the cycling experiments easier. The in situ experiments monitored by a mass spectrometer and infra-red spectroscopy demonstrated that the dehydration of cellulose occurred first and C2–C5 hydrocarbons were the intermediates that can be hydrocracked into methane. This research might open an avenue for converting biomass to chemicals or fuels under natural solar irradiation.