Production of renewable fuels by blending bio-oil with alcohols and upgrading under supercritical conditions

Abstract

The work studied a non-catalytic upgrading of fast pyrolysis bio-oil by blending under supercritical conditions using methanol, ethanol and isopropanol as solvent and hydrogen donor. Characterisation of the bio-oil and the upgraded bio-oils was carried out including moisture content, elemental content, pH, heating value, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), Fourier transform infrared radiation, ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis to evaluate the effects of blending and supercritical reactions. The GCMS analysis indicated that the supercritical methanol reaction removed the acids in the bio-oil consequently the pH increased from 2.39 in the crude bio-oil to 4.04 after the supercritical methanol reaction. The ester contents increased by 87.49% after the supercritical methanol reaction indicating ester formation could be the major deacidification mechanism for reducing the acidity of the bio-oil and improving its pH value. Simply blending crude bio-oil with isopropanol was effective in increasing the C and H content, reducing the O content and increasing the heating value to 27.55 from 17.51 MJ·kg ^{‒ 1} in the crude bio-oil. After the supercritical isopropanol reaction, the heating value of the liquid product slightly further increased to 28.85 MJ·kg ^{‒ 1}.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

bio-oil / blending / supercritical / upgrading / characterisation

References

[1] Bridgwater A V. Thermochemical Processing of Biomass Conversion into Fuels, Chemicals and Power. New Jersey: Wiley, 2011, 157–199

[2] Bridgwater A V. Review of fast pyrolysis of biomass and product upgrading. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2012, 38: 68–94

[3] Demirbas A. Competitive liquid biofuels from biomass. Applied Energy, 2011, 88(1): 17–28

[4] Kim T, Oh S, Kim J, Choi I, Choi J W. Study on the hydrodeoxygenative upgrading of crude bio-oil produced from woody biomass by fast pyrolysis. Energy, 2014, 68: 437–443

[5] Xu Y, Long J, Liu Q, Li Y, Wang C, Zhang Q, Wei L, Zhang X, Qiu S, Wang T, In situ hydrogenation of model compounds and raw bio-oil over Raney Ni catalyst. Energy Conversion and Management, 2015, 89: 188–196

[6] Xiong W M, Fu Y, Zeng F X, Guo Q X. An in situ reduction approach for bio-oil hydroprocessing. Fuel Processing Technology, 2011, 92(8): 1599–1605

[7] Gutiérrez Ortiz F J, Kruse A, Ramos F, Ollero P. Integral energy valorization of municipal solid waste reject fraction to biofuels. Energy Conversion and Management, 2019, 180: 1167–1184

[8] Baiker A. Supercritical fluids in heterogeneous catalysis. Chemical Reviews, 1999, 99(2): 453–474

[9] Guo Y, Wang S Z, Xu D H, Gong Y M, Ma H H, Tang X Y. Review of catalytic supercritical water gasification for hydrogen production from biomass. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2010, 14(1): 334–343

[10] Prajitno H, Insyani R, Park J, Ryu C, Kim J. Non-catalytic upgrading of fast pyrolysis bio-oil in supercritical ethanol and combustion behavior of the upgraded oil. Applied Energy, 2016, 172: 12–22

[11] Ahmadi S, Yuan Z, Rohani S, Xu C. Effects of nano-structured CoMo catalysts on hydrodeoxygenation of fast pyrolysis oil in supercritical ethanol. Catalysis Today, 2016, 269: 182–194

[12] Tan K T, Lee K T. A review on supercritical fluids (SCF) technology in sustainable biodiesel production: Potential and challenges. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2011, 15(5): 2452–2456

[13] Peng J, Chen P, Lou H, Zheng X. Catalytic upgrading of bio-oil by HZSM-5 in sub- and super-critical ethanol. Bioresource Technology, 2009, 100(13): 3415–3418

[14] Jo H, Prajitno H, Zeb H, Kim J. Upgrading low-boiling-fraction fast pyrolysis bio-oil using supercritical alcohol: Understanding alcohol participation, chemical composition, and energy efficiency. Energy Conversion and Management, 2017, 148: 197–209

[15] Boucher M E, Chaala A, Pakdel H, Roy C. Bio-oils obtained by vacuum pyrolysis of softwood bark as a liquid fuel for gas turbines Part II: Stability and ageing of bio-oil and its blends with methanol and a pyrolytic aqueous phase. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2000, 19(5): 351–361

[16] Nguyen D, Honnery D. Combustion of bio-oil ethanol blends at elevated pressure. Fuel, 2008, 87(2): 232–243

[17] Oasmaa A, Kuoppala E, Selin J F, Gust S, Solantausta Y. Fast pyrolysis of forestry residue and pine 4 Improvement of the product quality by solvent addition. Energy & Fuels, 2004, 18(5): 1578–1583

[18] Pidtasang B, Sukkasi S, Pattiya A. Effect of in-situ addition of alcohol on yields and properties of bio-oil derived from fast pyrolysis of eucalyptus bark. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2016, 120: 82–93

[19] Pidtasang B, Udomsap P, Sukkasi S, Chollacoop N, Pattiya A. Influence of alcohol addition on properties of bio-oil produced from fast pyrolysis of eucalyptus bark in a free-fall reactor. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2013, 19(6): 1851–1857

[20] Krutof A, Hawboldt K. Blends of pyrolysis oil, petroleum, and other bio-based fuels: A review. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2016, 59: 406–419

[21] Weerachanchai P, Tangsathitkulchai C, Tangsathitkulchai M. Phase behaviors and fuel properties of bio-oil-diesel-alcohol blends. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 2009, 32(8): 387–393

[22] Yu F, Deng S, Chen P, Liu Y, Wan Y, Olson A, Kittelson D, Ruan R. Physical and chemical properties of bio-oils from microwave pyrolysis of corn stover. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2007, 137-140(1-12): 957–970

[23] Mante O D, Agblevor F A. Storage stability of biocrude oils from fast pyrolysis of poultry litter. Waste Management (New York, N.Y.), 2012, 32(1): 67–76

[24] Udomsap P, Yeinn Y H, Hui J T H, Yoosuk B, Yusuf S B, Sukkasi S. Towards stabilization of bio-oil by addition of antioxidants and solvents, and emulsification with conventional hydrocarbon fuels. International Conference & Utility Exhibition on Power and Energy Systems: Issues and Prospects for Asia (ICUE), 2011, 1–5

[25] Diebold J P, Czernik S. Additives to lower and stabilize the viscosity of pyrolysis oils during storage. Energy & Fuels, 1997, 11(10): 1081–1091

[26] Zhang X, Tang W, Zhang Q, Li Y, Chen L, Xu Y, Wang C, Ma L. Production of hydrocarbon fuels from heavy fraction of bio-oil through hydrodeoxygenative upgrading with Ru-based catalyst. Fuel, 2018, 215: 825–834

[27] Zhang J, Luo Z, Dang Q, Wang J, Chen W. Upgrading of bio-oil over bifunctional catalysts in supercritical monoalcohols. Energy & Fuels, 2012, 26(5): 2990–2995

[28] Shafaghat H, Kim J M, Lee I G, Jae J, Jung S C, Park Y K. Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of crude bio-oil in supercritical methanol using supported nickel catalysts. Renewable Energy, 2019, 144: 159–166

[29] Shakya R, Adhikari S, Mahadevan R, Hassan E B, Dempster T A. Catalytic upgrading of bio-oil produced from hydrothermal liquefaction of Nannochloropsis sp. Bioresource Technology, 2018, 252: 28–36

[30] Zhang Z, Wang Q, Tripathi P, Pittman C U Jr. Catalytic upgrading of bio-oil using 1-octene and 1-butanol over sulfonic acid resin catalysts. Green Chemistry, 2011, 13(4): 940–949

[31] Li W, Pan C, Sheng L, Liu Z, Chen P, Lou H, Zheng X. Upgrading of high-boiling fraction of bio-oil in supercritical methanol. Bioresource Technology, 2011, 102(19): 9223–9228

[32] Cheng S, Wei L, Julson J, Rabnawaz M. Upgrading pyrolysis bio-oil through hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) using non-sulfided Fe-Co/SiO₂ catalyst. Energy Conversion and Management, 2017, 150: 331–342

[33] Duan P, Savage P E. Upgrading of crude algal bio-oil in supercritical water. Bioresource Technology, 2011, 102(2): 1899–1906

[34] Boundy B, Diegel S, Wright L D S. Biomass Energy Data Book. 4^th ed. US Department of Energy, 2011, 201

[35] Tang Z, Zhang Y, Guo Q. Catalytic hydrocracking of pyrolytic lignin to liquid fuel in supercritical ethanol. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2010, 49(5): 2040–2046

[36] Zhang Q, Xu Y, Li Y, Wang T, Zhang Q, Ma L, He M, Li K. Investigation on the esterification by using supercritical ethanol for bio-oil upgrading. Applied Energy, 2015, 160: 633–640

[37] Zhang X, Chen L, Kong W, Wang T, Zhang Q, Long J, Xu Y, Ma L. Upgrading of bio-oil to boiler fuel by catalytic hydrotreatment and esterification in an efficient process. Energy, 2015, 84: 83–90

[38] Li W, Pan C, Zhang Q, Liu Z, Peng J, Chen P, Lou H, Zheng X. Upgrading of low-boiling fraction of bio-oil in supercritical methanol and reaction network. Bioresource Technology, 2011, 102(7): 4884–4889

[39] Zhang C, Duan P, Xu Y, Wang B, Wang F, Zhang L. Catalytic upgrading of duckweed biocrude in subcritical water. Bioresource Technology, 2014, 166: 37–44

[40] Ramón J, Arauzo J, Garcia L, Arcelus-Arrillaga P, Millan M, Suelves I, Pinilla J L. Bio-oil upgrading in supercritical water using Ni-Co catalysts supported on carbon nanofibres. Fuel Processing Technology, 2016, 154: 178–187

[41] Zhang X, Zhang Q, Wang T, Li B, Xu Y, Ma L. Efficient upgrading process for production of low quality fuel from bio-oil. Fuel, 2016, 179: 312–321

[42] Tang Z, Lu Q, Zhang Y, Zhu X, Guo Q. One step bio-oil upgrading through hydrotreatment, esterification, and cracking. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2009, 48(15): 6923–6929

[43] Nishimura S, Ikeda N, Ebitani K. Selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) under atmospheric hydrogen pressure over carbon supported PdAu bimetallic catalyst. Catalysis Today, 2014, 232: 89–98

[44] Wang X, Liu Y, Liang X. Hydrogenolysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-dimethylfuran over supported Pt-Co bimetallic catalysts under mild conditions. Green Chemistry, 2018, 20(12): 2894–2902

[45] Román-Leshkov Y, Barrett C J, Liu Z Y, Dumesic J A. Production of dimethylfuran for liquid fuels from biomass-derived carbohydrates. Nature, 2007, 447(7147): 982–985

[46] Capunitan J A, Capareda S C. Characterization and separation of corn stover bio-oil by fractional distillation. Fuel, 2013, 112: 60–73

[47] Duan P, Zhang C, Wang F, Fu J, Lü X, Xu Y, Shi X. Activated carbons for the hydrothermal upgrading of crude duckweed bio-oil. Catalysis Today, 2016, 274: 73–81

[48] Meng J, Moore A, Tilotta D C, Kelley S S, Adhikari S, Park S. Thermal and storage stability of bio-oil from pyrolysis of torrefied wood. Energy & Fuels, 2015, 29(8): 5117–5126

[49] He Z, Xu D, Wang S, Zhang H, Jing Z. Catalytic upgrading of water-soluble biocrude from hydrothermal liquefaction of chlorella. Energy & Fuels, 2018, 32(2): 1893–1899