Products characterization for fast in-situ catalytic pyrolysis of bio-oil over Ni/Al2O3

Abstract

Pyrolysis is a promising technology for bio-oil utilization. However, bio-oil is thermally unstable and easily coking due to the complicated components and their interactions. This study developed an in-situ catalytic pyrolysis method for bio-oil over Ni/Al2O3. The results of product distribution and aromatic structures were investigated to elucidate the influence of catalyst participation and droplet sizes of bio-oil. The nickel catalyst can effectively decrease coke yield and increase gas yield at the studied condition (800 °C fast pyrolysis). Small droplets that lead to a higher heating rate would promote severer secondary reactions which lead to repolymerization. The catalyst would provide adsorptive points that help small fragments to be cracked and result in large fragments polymerizing.