Acid Separation from Bio-Oil Using Ionic Liquid

Studies on reducing the high acid concentration in bio-oil using ionic liquid as a new separation method needs to be conducted. Organic acid that contains in bio-oil supposed to be able to be extracted using two types of ionic liquid which are 1-butyl- 3-methylimidazolium thiocynate [Bmim][SCN] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate [Bmim][OTf]. Studies on bio-oil upgrading are necessary in order to improve its efficiency as an alternative fuel and to put it on par with fossil fuel as the world is approaching towards a "greener" source of energy. The objective of this project is mainly to study the acid separation from bio-oil using two types of ionic liquids which are [Bmim][SCN] and [Bmim][OTf] by analysing the amount of acetic acid after the separation in both upper and lower phase of liquids that are formed using Gas Chromatography (GC). The methodology for this project consists of extraction procedure and analysis of the amount of acetic acid after extraction using GC-Flame Ionization Detector. Findings show that the ionic liquid are able to extract acetic acid contains in bio-oil however it will also extract other components, like phenol, hence prohibiting two phase separation