Upgrading biomass liquefaction products through hydrodeoxygenation

Abstract

Products of direct liquefaction of wood at high pressure have been converted by catalytic hydrogenation to a gasoline-like hydrocarbon product. The process operates at a temperature of 300/sup 0/ to 350/sup 0/C and a pressure of 2000 psig with nickel metal or sulfided cobalt-molybdenum catalyst. The catalysts are commercially available hydrotreating catalysts. Other tests have shown a copper-chromite catalyst and the unsulfided form of the cobalt-molybdenum catalyst to be less effective. Analysis by infrared spectrophotometry, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance in addition to determination of elemental composition, density and distillation range were used to evaluate the product composition. 28 references, 7 figures, 5 tables.