This invention relates to compositions and methods for fluid
hydrocarbon product, and more specifically, to compositions and methods for fluid
hydrocarbon product via
catalytic pyrolysis. Some embodiments relate to methods for the production of specific aromatic products (e.g.,
benzene,
toluene,
naphthalene,
xylene, etc.) via
catalytic pyrolysis. Some such methods may involve the use of a composition comprising a mixture of a
solid hydrocarbonaceous material and a heterogeneous pyrolytic catalyst component. In some embodiments, the mixture may be pyrolyzed at high temperatures (e.g., between 500° C. and 1000° C.). The
pyrolysis may be conducted for an amount of time at least partially sufficient for production of discrete, identifiable
biofuel compounds. Some embodiments involve heating the mixture of catalyst and hydrocarbonaceous material at high rates (e.g., from about 50° C. per second to about 1000° C. per second). The methods described herein may also involve the use of specialized catalysts. For example, in some cases,
zeolite catalysts may be used; optionally, the catalysts used herein may have
high silica to
alumina molar ratios. In some instances, the composition fed to the
pyrolysis reactor may have a relatively high catalyst to hydrocarbonaceous material
mass ratio (e.g., from about 5:1 to about 20:1).