Upgrading of bio-oil by ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis and in-line esterification in fluidized bed reactor

Abstract

Ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis of Quercus mongolica over HZSM-5 and in-line esterification of pyrolysis/catalytic pyrolysis vapors with liquid phase n-butyl alcohol were carried out in a fluidized bed reactor. The ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis over HZSM-5 beads was performed to produce bio-oil containing aromatic hydrocarbons. The temperature of the ex-situ catalytic upgrading reaction was varied from 450 °C to 600 °C, and the maximum aromatic hydrocarbons yield was obtained at 450 °C. The selectivity for aromatic hydrocarbons as a function of catalytic reaction temperature varied depending on aromatic ring number, as the selectivity for mono-aromatic hydrocarbons decreased and that for poly-aromatic hydrocarbons increased with temperature. In-line esterification of the pyrolysis/catalytic pyrolysis vapors with liquid n-butyl alcohol was also carried out, and the GC/MS analysis results showed that the acids, aldehydes and ketones in the bio-oil were converted to esters and acetals.