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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #400383
Research Project: Sustaining Productivity and Ecosystem Services of Agricultural and Horticultural Systems in the Southeastern United States

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Hydrotreatment of pyrolysis bio-oil and triglyceride blends

Author
item ROY, P - Auburn University
item JAHROMI, H - Auburn University
item RAHMAN, T - Auburn University
item BALTRUSAITIS, J - Lehigh University
item HASSAN, E - Mississippi State University
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item ADHIKARI, S - Auburn University

Submitted to: Fuel Processing Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2023
Publication Date: 4/4/2023
Citation: Roy, P., Jahromi, H., Rahman, T., Baltrusaitis, J., Hassan, E., Torbert III, H.A., Adhikari, S. 2023. Hydrotreatment of pyrolysis bio-oil and triglyceride blends. Fuel Processing Technology. 245:107753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2023.107753.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2023.107753

Interpretive Summary: A study was conducted to understand the synergistic effect of the blending pyrolysis oil with triglycerides for hydrotreatment under different supports and the impact on the oil quality, hydrodeoxygenation (HDO), catalyst regeneration and coke formation. Blending the pyrolysis oil with poultry fat yielded better quality of bio-oil over carinata oil and produced higher percentage of jet fuel fraction irrespective of the support type. In summary, pyrolysis oil blended with poultry fat and hydrotreated using biochar support catalysts was more effective in HDO activity and in improving overall bio-oil quality compared to alumina supported catalyst and carinata oil.

Technical Abstract: In the present study unsulfided bimetallic (CoMo) catalysts on two supports (Douglas fir biochar support (DF) and alumina support (Al)) were used to hydrotreat a blend of eucalyptus pyrolysis bio-oil with carinata oil and poultry fat. The main objective of this study was to understand the synergistic effect of the blending pyrolysis oil with triglycerides for hydrotreatment under different supports and the impact on the oil quality, HDO, catalyst regeneration and coke formation. Biochar supported catalyst exhibited superior hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) compared to alumina support. Higher hydrogen consumption was seen for biochar support as oxygen was removed predominantly via dehydration reaction and higher methane gas formation was also seen. Lower amount of coke formation was seen for biochar support. Abundance oxygen containing functional groups, inorganic mineral oxides, high surface area, pore structure and acid sites makes biochar support a better HDO catalyst compared to alumina support. Blending the pyrolysis oil with poultry fat yielded better quality of bio-oil over carinata oil and produced higher percentage of jet fuel fraction irrespective of the support type. In summary, pyrolysis oil blended with poultry fat and hydrotreated using biochar support catalysts was more effective in HDO activity and in improving overall bio-oil quality compared to alumina supported catalyst and carinata oil.