Catalytic Cracking of Pinus roxburghii Resin for Liquid Fuels

Abstract

The development of alternative sources for energy and chemicals, particularly the use of plant biomass as a renewable resource for fuel or chemical feed stocks, has received much recent attention. The resin (biocrude) obtained from Pinus roxburghii, a resinous tree, was investigated as a potential source for liquid fuels in a fluidized bed reactor. The feed was studied for yield conversion data under different catalysts to feed ratio at different temperatures. High conversions of biocrude to liquid fuels were observed with maximum middle distillates selectivity at a catalyst/oil ratio of 1.8 and reaction temperature of 460°C. Gas chromatography analysis results indicated that the middle distillates obtained by catalytic cracking of P. roxburghii biocrude has a normal distribution of carbon number with high values from C₁₀–C₁₈ carbon atoms.

Keywords:

• biocrude
• fluid catalytic cracking
• liquid fuels
• Pinus roxburghii