Abstract
Pyrolytic lignins (PLs) are the major components in fast pyrolysis bio-oils and have detrimental effects on bio-oil properties. The existence of PLs also makes bio-oil upgrading rather difficult due to their nonvolatility and thermal instability. In this study, PL produced from rice husk was hydrocracked at 260 °C in supercritical ethanol under a hydrogen atmosphere by the use of Ru/ZrO2/SBA-15 or Ru/SO42−/ZrO2/SBA-15 catalyst. Trace amount of tar or coke was produced after the hydrocracking process, and most of the PL was converted into liquid fuel consisting of stable organic compounds with a heating value as high as 34.94 MJ/kg. The liquid product distribution was investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results demonstrated that, under supercritical ethanol conditions, Ru/ZrO2/SBA-15 and Ru/SO42−/ZrO2/SBA-15 were effective catalysts to convert PL to stable organic compounds such as phenols, guaiacols, anisoles, esters, light ketones, alcohols, long-chain alkanes, etc.
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