Upgrading bio‐oil model compounds phenol and furfural with in situ generated hydrogen. Issue 3 (6th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tan, Zhichao; Xu, Xingmin; Liu, Yonggang; Zhang, Changsen; Zhai, Yunpu; liu, Peng; Li, Yu; Zhang, Ruiqin
• Is Part Of: Environmental progress & sustainable energy. Volume 33:Issue 3(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 751
• Page End: 755
• Publication Date: 2014-01-06
• Subjects: Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Sustainable engineering -- Periodicals; Environmental chemistry -- Periodicals; 333.7
• DOI: 10.1002/ep.11915
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1944-7442

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Bio‐oil produced from prolysis process of biomass cannot be directly used for transportation fuels, because of the poor quality. Catalytic hydrogenation is then used to upgrade bio‐oil to engine‐grade fuel. However, external H<sub>2</sub> addition may not be cost effective to obtain high quality of oil. In this work, the feasibility of <italic>in situ</italic> hydrogen generation and hydrodeoxygenation is studied. Formic acid and acetic acid were selected as compounds for hydrogen generation by reforming reaction. Furfural and phenol were used as model bio‐oil compounds and were hydrogenated by <italic>in situ</italic> generated hydrogen from these acids using commercial Pd/C and Nickel based catalysts, RZ409. The reaction was performed in a batch‐scale reactor at 300°C for 3 h. The amount of H<sub>2</sub> generation depended on the type of catalyst and substrate used. For example, 1 mol formic acid yielded 0.46 mol H<sub>2</sub> (46% yield) and 0.46 mol CO<sub>2</sub> with Pd/C, while it produced only 0.15 mol H<sub>2</sub> and 0.15 mol CO<sub>2</sub> with RZ490. The Furfural and phenol could be hydrogenrated and translated to different byproducts with <italic>in situ</italic> generated H<sub>2, </sub> with some byproducts identified. The results provide a clear rationale for utilization of <italic>in situ</italic> generated H<sub>2</sub> for future bio‐oil upgrading to reduce external H<sub>2</sub> usage. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 751–755, 2014</p> </abstract>