Production of Biofuel from Bio-oil-based Syngas over a FeCuZnAlK Catalyst

Abstract

Efficient production of clean biofuels using CO₂-rich bio-oil-based syngas obtained from bio-oil steam reforming was performed over a Fe_1.5Cu₁Zn₁Al₁K_0.117 catalyst. The effects of synthesis parameters (temperature, pressure, gas hourly space velocity) on the performance of the biofuel synthesis were investigated. The maximum biofuel yield reaches about 0.63 kg biofuels/(kg_cata·h) with a contribution of 0.40 kg alcohols/(kg_cata·h) and 0.23 kg liquid hydrocarbons/(kg_cata·h). The content of C₂⁺ alcohols (mainly C₂–C₆ alcohols) in the alcohols products is 87.04–91.15 wt%. Some important elementary steps involved in the biofuel synthesis, including the reverse water-gas shift reaction and methanation, were also investigated in detail.

Keywords::

• biofuel
• biomass
• bio-oil
• FeCuZnAlK catalyst
• higher alcohol
• liquid hydrocarbon