Mo-modified ZSM-5 catalysts were prepared and used to produce aromatic hydrocarbons during catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) of biomass. The composition and distribution of aromatics were investigated on pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The reaction factors, such as the Mo content, the reaction temperature and the catalyst/biomass mass ratio, were also optimized. It was found that the 10Mo/ZSM-5 catalyst displayed the best activity in improving the production of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) and decreasing the yield of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at 600 °C and with a catalyst/biomass ratio of 10. Furthermore, according to catalyst characterization and the experiment results, the aromatics formation mechanism over Mo/ZSM-5 catalysts was also summarized and proposed.

Torrefaction of biomass is one of the most promising pretreatment methods for deriving biofuels from biomass via thermochemical conversion processes. In this work, the changes in physicochemical properties and morphology features of the torrefied corn stalk, the changes in physicochemical properties and morphology features of the torrefied corn stalk were investigated. The results of this study showed that the elemental content and proximate analysis of the torrefied corn stalk significantly changed compared with those of the raw corn stalk. In particular, at 300 °C, the volatile content decreased to 41.79%, while the fixed carbon content and higher heating value increased to 42.22% and 21.31 MJ/kg, respectively. The H/C and O/C molar ratios of torrefied corn stalk at the 300 °C were drastically reduced to 0.99 and 0.27, respectively, which are similar to those of conventional coals in China. Numerous cracks and pores were observed in the sample surface of torrefied corn stalk at the torrefaction temperature range of 275 °C–300 °C, which could facilitate the potential application of the sample in the adsorption process and promote the release of gas products in pyrolysis. In the pyrolysis phase, the liquid products of the torrefied corn stalk decreased, but the H₂/CO ratio and the lower heating value of the torrefied corn stalk increased compared with those of the raw corn stalk. This work paves a new strategy for the investigation of the effect of torrefaction on the physiochemical characteristics and pyrolysis of the corn stalk, highlighting the application potential in the conversion of biomass.