Advanced catalysts for efficient HDO hydrotreatment upgrading of biocrudes

Biocrudes produced from biomass depolymerization processes tend to be complex mixtures that contain highly oxygenated and nitrogenated compounds. These features are responsible for their poor properties for direct use as fuels due to high acidity and corrosiveness, high viscosity, low higher heating value (HHV), and low thermal stability. Consequently, an upgrading step is required to convert them into valuable sources for use as biofuels, drop-in fuels, or BTX platform chemicals.

Biocrude upgrading usually involves an HDO hydrotreatment step to reduce heteroatom (oxygen/nitrogen) content and catalysts play an important role in this process. Although many studies have addressed this topic and have made significant advance in the field, further investigation is needed for the development of efficient catalysts capable of achieving high conversions and selectivity. One of the current limitations that needs to be overcome is the catalyst stability. Catalysts resistant to deactivation by coke and char formation in the presence of aqueous media are necessary.  Moreover, coupling of depolymerization and HDO in “one-pot” allowing the reaction to proceed under milder conditions and low H2 consumption is highly desirable.

To submit your solution we need you to include the following button:
- Contact person
- Name of the solution
- Brief description of the research

‍