Abstract
The liquid phase upgrading of a model bio-oil was studied over a series of supported Pt catalysts. Pt/Al2O3 showed the highest activity for deoxygenation, the oxygen content of the model oil decreasing from an initial value of 41.4 wt% to 2.8 wt% after upgrading. GC-MS analysis of the oil showed it to be highly aromatic, the major components corresponding to alkyl-substituted benzenes and cyclohexanes. CO2 was formed as the major gaseous product, together with lower yields of H2 and C1-C6 hydrocarbons. Based on the product distribution, a reaction scheme is proposed in which light oxygenates predominantly undergo reforming to CO2 and H2, with C-O bond breaking/hydrogenation (to afford alkanes) as a minor pathway. In a parallel process, aromatics undergo C-O cleavage/hydrogenation, affording benzenes and cyclohexanes. The highly alkylated nature of the products appears to be a consequence of the acidic nature of the reaction medium, favoring the occurrence of aromatic electrophilic substitution reactions.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 150-156 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Applied Catalysis A: General |
Volume | 358 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1 2009 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors thank Gerald Thomas for performing the XRD and XRF measurements, Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez for HRTEM analyses, and Dr. John Storey for helpful discussions. Financial support from the Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium is gratefully acknowledged.
Keywords
- Bio-oil
- Catalyst
- Platinum
- Pyrolysis
- Upgrading
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Catalysis
- Process Chemistry and Technology