Direct liquefaction of wood by catalyst. Part 1. Effects of pressure, temperature, holding time and wood/catalyst/water ratio on oil yield.

Abstract

Wood powder suspended in water was directly liquefied in the presence of potassium carbonate without reducing agents such as hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide. Systematic studies were carried out with pressure, temperature, holding time and wood/catalyst/water ratio to determine the optimum conditions for the production of heavy fuel oil. Maximum yield was obtained under the following conditions: 2.0MPa of argon, 300°C, 0min of holding time and wood/catalyst/water ratio (5/0.1-0.3/30), giving heavy oils which tend to solidify on standing in air. A conspicuous finding observed was that a heavy oil, which does not solidify and is free-flowing at room temperature, was obtained at 375°C in the vicinity of critical temperature of water.