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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Biomass Conversion to Produce Hydrocarbon Liquid Fuel Via Hot-vapor Filtered Fast Pyrolysis and Catalytic Hydrotreating
Published on: December 25, 2016
Catalytic co-pyrolysis of red cedar with methane to produce upgraded bio-oil
Redemptus S Tshikesho1, Ajay Kumar1, Raymond L Huhnke1
1Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, United States.
Abstract:
Fast pyrolysis is a promising route to transform biomass into bio-oil for further refining into transportation fuels and chemicals. However, bio-oil applications suffer from several challenges due to its adverse properties. This study reports improving bio-oil properties through co-pyrolysis of biomass with methane over molybdenum/zinc (MoZn/ZHSM-5) and HZSM-5 catalysts that promote deoxygenation, decarbonylation, hydrogen transfer and aromatization reactions. The co-pyrolysis was conducted at 650 °C and 750 °C in a micro-scale reactor and a bench-scale reactor. The highest bio-oil yield, energy content, and energy yield of 53.4%, 10.2 MJ/kg, and 29.9%, respectively, were obtained with methane over MoZn/HZSM-5 at 650 °C. Acids, alcohols, aldehydes, benzene derivatives, BTEXs, furans, ketones, PAHs, and phenols were detected in bio-oils while phenols dominated under most conditions. Oxygenated compounds decreased using MoZn/HZSM-5 with methane at 750 °C. The results demonstrate that methane used with catalysts can reduce oxygenated compounds and improve properties and yield of bio-oil.
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