from first principles PP-I-1

OY-IV-7Novel Catalysts for Bio-Fuels Production from Biomass Fast Pyrolysis OilsBykova M.V., Ermakov D.Yu., Kaichev V.V., Smirnov A.A., Yakovlev V.A.Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russiabykova@catalysis.ruIn the recent decades, processes of biomass conversion into hydrocarbon fuels have beenattracting much attention due to decreasing of crude-oil reserves. Now the technology level ofbiomass processing into engine fuels is lower than oil-refinery industry, which is the mainreason for higher prime cost of bio-fuels production. The role of catalytic technologies ofbiomass processing into hydrocarbon fuels should be emphasized.The product of flash pyrolysis of grinded wood, named bio-oil, is a perspective feedstock forthe petrol production [1]. But these bio-oils contain considerable amount of oxygen, leadingto poor heating value, corrosiveness, thermal instability and immiscibility with hydrocarbonfuels. Catalytic hydrotreatment or hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is the most direct and effectiveway of bio-oils upgrading by oxygen elimination. The HDO catalysts were mainlyconcentrated on conventional sulphided CoMo or NiMo and noble metal catalysts. Noblemetal catalysts exhibit high catalytic activity in the HDO reactions, but the high cost is theirmost significant drawback. Sulfided catalyst are easily deactivated via the oxidation of theactive catalyst phase during the HDO. The addition of sulfiding agent (H 2 S or CS 2 ) couldmaintain the catalytic activity, but it would lead to sulfur contamination of the upgraded biooil.Numerous investigations allowed formulation of essential requirements for HDO catalyststo meet. They should have low cost, non-sulfided nature, high activity in the HDO process,high stability in corrosive aqueous medium (against leaching), high thermal stability andability for multiple regeneration by coke burning.In the present work, we propose a new type of non-sulfided Ni-based catalysts for bio-oilHDO. The catalysts were produced by sol-gel technique and tested in HDO of guaiacol beinga model of bio-oil [2]. Guaicol HDO has been carried out in an autoclave at 320 °C andhydrogen pressure of 17 MPa. Owing to high Ni content and high surface area, the catalystspossessed great HDO activity. However, these catalytic systems still require an improvementbecause of low thermal stability and tendency to dissolve in acidic medium. The catalystimprovement is the subject of the ongoing research.References:[1] A.V. Bridgwater. Biomass Bioenergy 38 (2012) 68.[2] M.V. Bykova, D.Yu. Ermakov, V.V. Kaichev, et al. Appl. Catal. B 113–114 (2012) 296.108