Fast Pyrolysis Bio-oil Research Articles

Evaluation of the Properties and Compositions of Blended Bio-jet Fuels Derived from Fast Pyrolysis Bio-oil made from Wood According to Aging Test

AbstractThe aviation industry has set ambitious goals for reducing carbon emissions, with the International Civil Aviation Organization targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Bio-jet fuel is expected to play a crucial role in achieving this target, and the demand for bio-jet fuel is projected to rapidly increase. Bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of lignin, such as waste wood, is considered a promising alternative for production of bio-jet fuel through processes such as hydrodeoxygenation. In this study, the physical properties and compositions of bio-jet fuel produced from wood-derived pyrolysis bio-oil blended with petroleum-based jet fuel as well as their changes during 16 weeks storage were investigated. Consistently, 0%, 10%, 50%, and 100% blended bio-jet fuels were prepared. After 16 weeks of aging, the total acid number of the all-blended bio-jet fuel showed a sharp increase from 12 weeks, reaching over 0.1 mg KOH/g. Additionally, kinematic viscosity showed a steady increase over 16 weeks whereas oxidative stability decreased by approximately 20% at 16 weeks for the 100% bio-jet fuel alone. The final boiling point increased by up to 20% in higher blends of bio-jet fuel and the average molecular weight increased. Bio-jet fuel has a high olefin content, which can further increase during storage, leading to a decrease in the combustion characteristics. This study suggests that using up to 10% the bio-jet fuel in aircraft is safe considering storage stability, but further research is required to confirm this finding.

Quality and Storage Properties of Upgraded Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil for Marine Transport

Quality and Storage Properties of Upgraded Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil for Marine Transport

Stable diesel and bio-oil emulsion through solvent extraction and ultrasonic aided emulsification

Fast pyrolysis bio-oil is considered a highly preferable supplement to conventional fossil fuels. However, the direct application of pyrolysis bio-oil is limited due to poor fuel properties. Emulsification of bio-oil with diesel using a solvent is considered a relatively straightforward technique for utilizing bio-oil directly with diesel. In this study, new solvents were studied with the aid of sonication to produce a stable emulsion of diesel and bio-oil. 2-Octanol, 2-Heptanol and 2-Octanone were selected as solvents based on computer-aided molecular design (CAMD) method. Bio-oil was blended with 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt% of 2-Octanol using sonication. The solvent-oil blends with different solvents (2-Heptanol and 2-Octanone) at 20 wt% were also investigated for extracting organics from bio-oil. Subsequently, sonication-assisted emulsification of the solvent-extracted bio-oil with diesel was conducted with the aid of a composite surfactant with a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value of 7. Extraction of bio-oil with 20 wt% of 2-Octanol provided a maximum organic yield of 37.9 ± 1.3 % with a Higher Heating Value (HHV) of 31.9 MJ/kg. The desired ratio for emulsification was found to be 80: 15: 5 (diesel: surfactant: solvent-extracted bio-oil). The emulsion samples showed promising quality with an HHV of 44.0 MJ/kg and a pH of 8.0 ± 0.1. Moreover, no phase separation was observed even after the accelerated ageing process at 80 ºC for 24 hours. The results showed that all three solvents had an overall positive effect on the extraction of organics from bio-oil and aided in emulsification with diesel in which 2-Octanol was the most effective solvent for achieving a stable diesel – bio-oil emulsion.

Phase Equilibria Aided Optimization of Levoglucosan Extraction during Condensation of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oils

Phase Equilibria Aided Optimization of Levoglucosan Extraction during Condensation of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oils

Insecticidal effects of the fast pyrolysis bio-oil against Spodoptera littoralis and Aphis gossypii insect pests

The detrimental effects of agricultural pesticides on human and environmental health necessitate the development of alternatives to conventional pesticides. In the laboratory, the cotton leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis) and aphid (Aphis gossypii) insects were used to evaluate the insecticidal activity of bio-oil derived from olive cake. The application of bio-oil by leaf dipping against S. littoralis demonstrated no mortality at a concentration of 1 % bio-oil. In contrast, the bio-oil showed better results against A. gossypii by slide dip method with LC50 = 1310.40 mg/l and LC90 = 3117.40 mg/l. The combined activity of bio-oil and the biopesticide Beauveria bassiana (bio-oil/B.b) was comparable, with LC50 = 1386.94 mg/L and LC90 = 3142.05 mg/L. The field application (two sprays) of bio-oil, bio-oil/B.b, and a commercial insecticide (alpha super) on aphids revealed a reduction of 52 %, 74.33 %, and 74.67 % in the first spray and 59.67 %, 63.33 %, and73.67 % in the second spray for, bio-oil, bio-oil/B.b, and super alpha respectively. The bio-oil and bio-oil/B.b had significantly less effect on the population densities of two predators (predator mite Amblyseius swirskii and aphid lion Chrysoperla carnea) than the insecticide used. Analyses of bio-oil by gaschromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) identified 30 compounds possibly have pesticidal activity. The most abundant compounds are 9 octadecenoicacid methyl ester, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, 6 octadecenoic acid, methyl ester and Phenol, 2methoxy. The pyrolysis byproduct (bio-oil) of olive cake biomass contains bioactive compounds that can be used as biopesticide.

Hydrodeoxygenation of lignin bio-oil model compounds and surrogate mixtures over zeolite supported nickel catalysts

Bifunctional catalysts based on nickel supported on ZSM-5 and BETA zeolites were studied in the hydrodeoxygenation of lignin derived model compounds as well as in surrogate mixtures simulating the light fraction of lignin fast pyrolysis bio-oil. A screening of the hydrodeoxygenation reaction conditions (temperature, time, H2 pressure, catalyst amount) was carried out using the simplest phenolic compound, phenol. As in real lignin bio-oils more complex phenolic compounds are present, a series of relevant alkyl- and methoxy-substituted phenol and benzene (o- and m-cresol, catechol, anisole, guaiacol, syringol, creosol and 1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene) were also investigated as feedstocks. Furthermore, the effect of the different porous and acidic properties of the zeolitic supports was investigated in the hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol. The conversion of the model phenolics and the yield of the respective (alkyl)cyclohexanes at relatively mild conditions (220 °C, 50 bar H2, 1 h) were in the range of 80–100% and 47–83%, respectively, being dependent mainly on the complexity/side-chain group of the phenolic/benzylic ring and on the balanced content of Brønsted acid sites of increased strength. Regarding the hydrodeoxygenation of the surrogate mixture (C7-C10 phenolics), 100% hydrodeoxygenation efficiency was achieved towards >60% yield of (alkyl)cyclohexanes (C6-C9 hydrocarbons). All hydrodeoxygenation tests were conducted in hexadecane as solvent/substrate in order to simulate model co-processing (i.e. bio-based phenolics with petroleum derived feedstocks) conditions. Reusability tests revealed the stability of the catalysts which showed partial (30%) deactivation after the third catalytic cycle.

Viscosity Reduction of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil by Using CO2 as an Additive

Viscosity Reduction of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil by Using CO₂ as an Additive

Removal of Inorganic Impurities in the Fast Pyrolysis Bio-oil Using Sorbents at Ambient Temperature

Removal of Inorganic Impurities in the Fast Pyrolysis Bio-oil Using Sorbents at Ambient Temperature

Upgrading of fast pyrolysis bio-oils to renewable hydrocarbons using slurry- and fixed bed hydroprocessing

Liquefaction of lignocellulosic biomass through fast pyrolysis, to yield fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO), is a technique that has been extensively researched in the quest for finding alternatives to fossil feedstocks to produce fuels, chemicals, etc. Properties such as high oxygen content, acidity, and poor storage stability greatly limit the direct use of this bio-oil. Furthermore, high coking tendencies make upgrading of the FPBO by hydrodeoxygenation in fixed-bed bed hydrotreaters challenging due to plugging and catalyst deactivation. This study investigates a novel two-step hydroprocessing concept; a continuous slurry-based process using a dispersed NiMo-catalyst, followed by a fixed bed process using a supported NiMo-catalyst. The oil product from the slurry-process, having a reduced oxygen content (15 wt%) compared to the FPBO and a comparatively low coking tendency (TGA residue of 1.4 wt%), was successfully processed in the downstream fixed bed process for 58 h without any noticeable decrease in catalyst activity, or increase in pressure drop. The overall process resulted in a 29 wt% yield of deoxygenated oil product (0.5 wt% oxygen) from FPBO with an overall carbon recovery of 68%.

Layer formation on quartz bed particles during fast pyrolysis of grass

Commercial fast pyrolysis technologies use bed materials, normally natural sand mainly consisting of quartz, acting as circulating heat carrier materials. Nowadays, the commercial conversion of biomass into fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) is still using ash-lean woody residues as a feedstock since the application of more abundant and possibly cheaper ash-rich agricultural biomass is currently at a significantly lower technology readiness level (TRL). To promote FPBO production from ash-rich biomass, the ash-related issues during the operation process need to be further studied. In the present investigation, the characteristics and formation process of layers formed on quartz bed particles, collected from a bench-scale fast pyrolysis unit based on the rotating cone technology, were studied. Two grass residues, representative of typical Si-K-rich agricultural biomass fuels, were used as feedstocks. Quartz bed particles at different sampling times from startup with fresh bed particles were collected. Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) was employed to characterize the layer properties. Bed particle layers exhibited an uneven and discontinuous distribution on the quartz surface. This distribution over bed particles, as well as layer thickness, increased with the operational time. The dominating elements contained in layers were Si, K, Ca, and Cl (excluding O), which resembled that of individual bed ash particles found in the bed samples. In addition, the interpretation of the results was supported by thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. The findings suggest that the process of layer formation was governed by the direct adhesion of non-melted bed ash particles during the fast pyrolysis of grass.

Production of pyrolytic lignin for the phenolic resin synthesis via fast pyrolysis

Recycling of waste wood into resol type phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins via fast pyrolysis was demonstrated. Waste wood collected from the building demolition site in Finland was pyrolyzed with 20 kg/h circulating fluidized bed pyrolysis pilot unit. Pilot was operated with high organic liquid yield (60 wt% on average) and the produced fast pyrolysis bio-oil was fractionated by water addition into aqueous phase and water insoluble phase. The obtained fractions were characterized, and the water-insoluble viscous lignin fraction was used in the synthesis of PF-resins. Commercial phenol was successfully replaced by pyrolytic lignin fraction at 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%, 40 wt% and 50 wt% producing resins of low in free formaldehyde content, but resins with high replacement ratio exhibited higher viscosities. The use of H2O/n-butanol mixture as solvent at a ratio 70:30 wt/wt% proved capable to prolong the storage time of the resin and helped to maintain the viscosity at acceptable values for at least 2 weeks before their use in the targeted application. Finally, the gluing performance of the resins was evaluated by measuring the tensile shear strength of lap joints formed by gluing 5 mm thick beech wood veneers. All the produced resins fulfilled a dry strength limit of ≥ 10 N/mm2. Wet strength limit ≥ 7 N/mm2 was fulfilled by the resins with the replacement ratio up 40 wt%, but resins with replacement ratio of 50 wt% had somewhat reduced wet strength. These results confirm a promising protentional application of pyrolysis derived lignin fraction in phenolic wood adhesives, at least in dry conditions.

Plating the hot potato: how to make intermediate bioenergy carriers an accelerator to a climate-neutral Europe

BackgroundWith sustainable bioenergy in the European energy mix, intermediate bioenergy carriers (IBC) become of growing importance, as they can ensure a more efficient utilisation of biomass feedstocks from agricultural and forest residues. A high potential for market uptake is foreseen for fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO), one of several IBCs. While facing the chicken and egg problem in market entry, the aim of this study was the development of adequate strategies to support market implementation. The case study findings and methodological approach can provide policymakers, industry, and a broader audience with a vision for addressing similar challenges in market adoption of innovations in the bioeconomy and beyond. Therefore, we tested a new PESTEL + I approach and its practical applicability to an IBC value chain.ResultsWith an adopted PESTEL method, we analysed a promising value chain in which FPBO is produced from sawdust in Sweden and Finland, transported to the Netherlands and upgraded and marketed as a marine biofuel. Our results show that the market uptake of IBCs such as FPBO and subsequently produced biofuels is above all driven by the European Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II). In Annex IX Part A, sawdust is listed as a feedstock for advanced biofuels, which can be double counted towards the 14% renewable energy share goal in the transport sector in 2030. To support the use of advanced biofuels in the maritime and aviation sector, the proposal for revision of RED II 2021 contains a new multiplier (1.2x) for fuels delivered to these sectors, while all other multipliers are deleted. These legal European obligations and implementation into national law of member states create strong incentives for many downstream market actors to use advanced biofuel. However, technological challenges for FPBO use still hamper fast market introduction.ConclusionsOvercoming technology challenges and the creation of long-term validity of guidelines and regulatory framework will create stable market conditions, investment security and finally stimulate long-term offtake agreements between feedstock providers, technology developers and downstream customers. The approach and findings can provide a vision to overcome similar challenges in other bioeconomy innovations’ market uptake and beyond.

Comprehensive investigation on fast pyrolysis of waste Lotus shells to produce valuable products: Pyrolysis characteristics, reaction mechanism and economic analysis

Lotus shells (LS) represent an abundant, underutilized renewable resource with significant potential for producing bio-based fuels and chemicals. Pyrolysis emerges as an effective means to maximize the value derived from LS waste. This study assessed the behavior, kinetics of LS pyrolysis for bioenergy production through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), model-free and model methods. The product distribution resulting from LS fast pyrolysis and the physicochemical properties of the derived products were comprehensively investigated. A plausible reaction mechanism for LS pyrolysis was proposed, followed by an estimation of the associated costs for bioenergy production through pyrolysis. The activation energy (Eα) for LS calculated through Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), and Friedman (FR) methods was 197.36 kJ/mol, 193.66 kJ/mol, and 197.16 kJ/mol, respectively. The kinetic reaction model for LS pyrolysis was represented by the equation f(α) = α−26.59(1-α)12.35[-ln(1-α)]−27.26, indicating the dominance of a diffusion model and nucleation mechanism in the LS pyrolysis process. Notably, the fast pyrolysis bio-oil derived from LS mainly comprised phenols (34.73 % at 300 °C), acids (42.33 % at 600 °C), and nitrogenous compounds (27.40 % at 800 °C), and the gaseous products primarily consisted of H2, CH4, CxHy, CO, and CO2. Biochar derived from LS exhibited abundant functional groups and mesoporous structure, and its moderate C/N ratio and low H/C ratio indicated potential for soil remediation. Furthermore, the high heating value (21.55–27.01 MJ/kg) of LS biochar exceeded that of Zhaotong lignite, demonstrating its favorable combustion characteristics. This study lays the theoretical foundation for the efficient treatment and high-value utilization of Lotus shells.

The effect of citric acid pretreatment on composition and stability of bio-oil from sugar cane residues using a continuous lab-scale pyrolysis reactor

This study outlines the effect of citric acid leaching on the quality and stability of fast pyrolysis bio-oils from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and sugarcane trash (SCT). The quality of bio-oil was probed by GC-MS analysis, elemental composition, higher heating value, water and solids content, pH, dynamic viscosity and stability (ageing). Pyrolysis was performed at 500 °C in a fully controlled, continuously operated plant with a biomass throughput of ca. 300 g.hr−1. While citric acid leaching causes a decrease of the average bio-oil yield with 5%, it does not lead to a bio-oil with improved fuel-related properties. However, the bio-oil composition became more advantageous in light of its biorefining. Indeed, citric acid leaching led to an increased levoglucosan concentration – a promising platform chemical – of 17% for SCB and of to 35% for SCT (based on relative abundance in GC-MS). In tandem, the concentration of carboxylic acids and phenols in the bio-oil decreased after citric acid leaching, which is beneficial for downstream purification of levoglucosan. Regarding the non-condensable gases, CO and CO2 represented between 88% and 91% by weight of the total non-condensable gases produced in pyrolysis. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrate that optimized biomass demineralization pretreatment with citric acid could produce bio-oil at high yield and rich in high-value chemical compounds like levoglucosan. Biomass demineralization pretreatment however, does not result in bio-oil with improved quality for fuel purposes, nor does it necessarily lead to bio-oil having higher stability.

Spray combustion of fast-pyrolysis bio-oils under engine-like conditions

In the EU funded SmartCHP project, biomass derived fast-pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) is used to fuel modified stationary diesel engines for combined heat and power applications. In this study, the spray combustion characteristics of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil and FPBO/ethanol blends are experimentally investigated in a combustion research unit. Due to the special physicochemical properties of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil, major modifications are made to the combustion research unit to facilitate testing this fuel, including the installation of a high-temperature chamber and a heavy-fuel oil injection system. Experimental tests are carried out at a chamber wall temperature of 750 °C and an ambient pressure of 50 bar. The pressure-based heat release analysis is used to evaluate fuel ignition and combustion characteristics, while a high-speed imaging technique is adopted to visualize natural luminosity of spray flames through a borescope.Results show that fast-pyrolysis bio-oil has lower sooting tendency than diesel, and it significantly alleviates the fuel dribble phenomenon. At injection pressure of 300 bar, the poor atomization of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil leads to rather grainy-looking spray flame images, and nozzle orifices becoming clogged within couple of injections. The increase of injection pressure to 900 bar results in an obvious improvement of the atomization quality and nozzle durability for fast-pyrolysis bio-oil. Adding ethanol into fast-pyrolysis bio-oil could improve fuel atomization and further reduce the natural luminosity. The ignition delay of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil is slightly retarded by 10% ethanol addition, while it is advanced by 30% ethanol addition.

Exploring the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the water-soluble fraction derived from pyrolytic lignin separation in fast-pyrolysis bio-oil

Exploring the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the water-soluble fraction derived from pyrolytic lignin separation in fast-pyrolysis bio-oil

Influence of torrefaction as pretreatment on the fast pyrolysis of sugarcane trash

This study aims to perform a comprehensive analysis of the two-step pyrolysis process, including the three-phase products obtained from torrefaction followed by fast pyrolysis (FP), with particular attention to the redistribution of mass, elements and energy. Torrefaction pretreatment of sugarcane trash (ST) was carried out in a tube furnace at 220 °C, 260 °C and 300 °C for 60 min. Torrefaction results showed that the quality improvement of ST was in the increase in carbon content and the removal of low-calorific volatiles. Fast pyrolysis of raw and torrefied ST was carried out in a mechanically stirred fluidized bed reactor. The results showed that torrefaction pretreatment led to an increased biochar yield and a decreased bio-oil yield in the subsequent FP step. Nevertheless, the quality of obtained bio-oil was enhanced by the higher phenolic content and the lower water and acid contents. On the other hand, the total yield of liquid (including torrefaction liquid and FP bio-oil) of the two-step pyrolysis process decreased while the solid (biochar) yield increased and the total gas yield changed less, compared to the direct FP of raw ST. Furthermore, the elemental redistribution results revealed that most of the carbon (65.21–93.02 wt%) remained in ST after torrefaction, while considerable amounts of oxygen (26.14–69.58 wt%) and hydrogen (23.53–61.25 wt%) were transferred into the torrefaction liquid and non-condensable gases, including H2O, CO, and CO2, amongst others. Consequently, most of the feedstock energy (67.14–89.02 %) was transferred into FP products for the two-step pyrolysis process. In view of the redistribution properties and product quality (especially bio-oil), torrefaction prior to fast pyrolysis is recommended and 260 °C is regarded as a suitable temperature to balance product yield and quality. Overall, this study provides valuable data for a better understanding of the role of torrefaction pretreatment on biomass fast pyrolysis.

Comparative Production of Bio-Oil from In Situ Catalytic Upgrading of Fast Pyrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Catalytic upgrading of fast pyrolysis bio-oil from two different types of lignocellulosic biomass was conducted using an H-ZSM-5 catalyst at different temperatures. A fixed-bed pyrolysis reactor has been used to perform in situ catalytic pyrolysis experiments at temperatures of 673, 773, and 873 K, where the catalyst (H-ZSM-5) has been mixed with wood chips or lignin, and the pyrolysis and upgrading processes have been performed simultaneously. The fractionation method has been employed to determine the chemical composition of bio-oil samples after catalytic pyrolysis experiments by gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy (GCMS). Other characterization techniques, e.g., water content, viscosity, elemental analysis, pH, and bomb calorimetry have been used, and the obtained results have been compared with the non-catalytic pyrolysis method. The highest bio-oil yield has been reported for bio-oil obtained from softwood at 873 K for both non-catalytic and catalytic bio-oil samples. The results indicate that the main effect of H-ZSM-5 has been observed on the amount of water and oxygen for all bio-oil samples at three different temperatures, where a significant reduction has been achieved compared to non-catalytic bio-oil samples. In addition, a significant viscosity reduction has been reported compared to non-catalytic bio-oil samples, and less viscous bio-oil samples have been produced by catalytic pyrolysis. Furthermore, the obtained results show that the heating values have been increased for upgraded bio-oil samples compared to non-catalytic bio-oil samples. The GCMS analysis of the catalytic bio-oil samples (H-ZSM-5) indicates that toluene and methanol have shown very similar behavior in extracting bio-oil samples in contrast to non-catalytic experiments. However, methanol performed better for extracting chemicals at a higher temperature.

Novel Hot Vapor Filter Design for Biomass Pyrolysis.

Fast pyrolysis is a mature technology for the conversion of solid biomass into a liquid intermediate, fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO). FPBO has so far been used mainly as heating fuel, but the target is to use it for the production of sustainable fuels and chemicals in the future. In the pyrolysis process, inorganic materials (ash) from the biomass are mostly sequestered in char particles, which can be separated with cyclones. Small particles (<10 μm) escape the cyclones and condense with vapors. In bio-oils, these solid materials are unfavorable because they can cause erosion, corrosion, and blockages at injection nozzles in power generation systems and deactivate the catalyst in bio-oil upgrading. Hot vapor filtration using either moving bed or barrier filters has been tested on a small scale for the removal of fine particles from the pyrolysis vapors. The challenges with these filter types have been the increased pressure drop across the filter with time, inefficient solid removal, and loss in organics. A new hot vapor filter combining both a barrier filter and a moving bed filter was constructed and tested to overcome these problems. In this filter system, the filter elements are inserted in a vessel, where hot sand flows through to continuously remove the cake over filter candles. The filter was successfully tested with stem chips, contaminated wood, and forest residue for 6-8 h without any pressure increase. The organic liquid yield decreased in the best case only by 3 wt % using the lowest filtration temperature and shortest residence time. The oil properties were slightly affected by cracking of the sugar fraction, which decreased the oxygen content, microcarbon residue, and carbonyl content but increased the acidity. Only minor improvements in metal removal were seen due to the high detection limits of metal analysis.

Using Fractional Condensation to Optimize Aqueous Pyrolysis Condensates for Downstream Microbial Conversion

This study investigated the use of fractional condensation, following the fast pyrolysis of three different ash-rich biomass feedstocks, to optimize the composition of aqueous pyrolysis condensates (ACs) for downstream microbial conversion. Optimum conditions were first predicted and established theoretically by means of vapor–liquid equilibrium flash calculations that employed the modified UNIFAC Dortmund (UNIFAC-DMD) model. Thereafter, theoretical models were experimentally validated on a 10 kg/h fast pyrolysis setup. Model predictions revealed that a temperature combination of 120 and 50 °C on the first and second staged condensers, respectively, returned optimum production of AC yield and substrates at the expense of inhibitors. Satisfactory agreement existed between most experimental data and model predictions, and the qualitative trend was mostly reproduced correctly. Some noteworthy deviations were, however, observed, most especially for inhibitory compounds, which were blamed on the limitation of the UNIFAC-DMD model in accurately predicting the phase behavior of organic compounds at such very low concentrations as well as the scarcity of precise vapor pressure data for some of these organic compounds. Nonetheless, the study demonstrated how valuable theoretical phase equilibrium models are in predicting the composition of fast pyrolysis bio-oils and how fractional condensation proves to be a key upstream pre-treatment for valorizing ACs.