Pyrolysis Bio-Oil Upgrading to Renewable Fuels

2014PDFTech ReportN13-04DTRT12GUTC17Biomass fuelsRenewable energy sourcesPyrolysisNanostructure materialsCatalystsNickelResearch HubUnited StatesTranLIVE. University of IdahoMcDonald, ArmandoMcIlroy, DavidHan, YingleiKengne, Blaise-AlexisNational Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology (U.S.)United States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Innovative Technology AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThis study aims to upgrade woody biomass pyrolysis bio-oil into transportation fuels by catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) using nanospring (NS) supported catalyst via the following research objectives: (1) develop nanospring-based catalysts (nanocatalyst) and (2) evaluate the nanocatalysts for the hydrogenation of pyrolysis bio-oil into liquid fuels. We developed protocols for HDO treatment of bio-oil and model compounds and product evaluation using commercial Ni and Ru based catalysts initially. We successfully synthesized Ni decorated NS catalysts (Ni-NS), in small amounts (mg level) and characterized the catalysts. It was shown that the Ni-NS catalyst had to be reduced (activated) before use. The Ni based catalysts were able to hydrodeoxygenate the model compounds and bio-oil and conversion was Ni content and temperature dependent. Low conversions using the Ni-NS catalysts were obtained, but only very small amounts of catalyst were used. Further work is required to scale up the Ni-NS catalyst production, increase Ni loading on NSs, and modify the reactor for future work in bio-oil upgrading