Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation of Biomass Pyrolysis Vapor Model Compounds over Molybdenum Sulfide Catalysts: Influence of Support, H₂S and Water

Conventional fast pyrolysis of biomass produces a high yield of bio-oil through well-established technologies [1]. Theproduced bio-oil must be further processed in order to decrease the content of oxygen (from 15-30 wt% down to <1wt%) and thereby enhance important fuel properties such as heating value, acidity and stability [1,2]. Upgrading ofcondensed pyrolysis oil is challenged by severe polymerization and coking upon heating. Instead, it is proposed toperform pyrolysis in the presence of hydrogen and an HDO catalyst for immediate stabilization and upgrading ofreactive pyrolysis products. Downstream deep HDO potentially ensures removal of oxygen down to <1 wt%. Aschematic diagram for such a process is shown in Figure 1. A simplified bench scale setup is being constructed at DTUChemical Engineering with a planned commissioning in Spring 2016. With a capacity of 100 g/h solid biomass, the aimis to provide a proof-of-concept for the continuous conversion of solid biomass to low oxygen, fuel-grade bio-oil.