Upgrading of bio-oils over equilibrium FCC catalysts. Contributions from alcohols, phenols and aromatics ethers

Abstract

The conversions of oxygenated compounds of bio-oils (alcohols, phenols and aromatic ethers) on a equi-librium FCC catalyst were studied at 500◦C during 60 s in a fixed bed laboratory reactor. Methanol,phenol and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol were dissolved in water and 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene in benzene at5 %wt. Identical experiments were performed over inert SiC. Conversions were very different, the highestone being that of 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene (95.7 %wt.), followed by 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (75.0 %wt.),methanol (60.8 %wt.) and phenol (54.9 %wt.). Deoxygenation in all the reactants was from dehydrationand decarboxylation. The highest yield of hydrocarbons (47.1 %wt.) and coke (16.0 %wt.) were from 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene, which, together with methanol, yielded mainly aromatics in the gasoline range. Onthe contrary, phenol and syringol yielded C4-hydrocarbons with high content of olefins. The highestamounts of oxygenated compounds were produced by 2,6-dimethoxyphenol. The thermal conversionswere similar to the catalytic ones in the only case of 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene, but much lower with theother reactants. In comparison to the catalytic experiments, thermal tests yielded much more hydrocar-bons with 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene, and oxygenated compounds with 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, than theother reactants. These tests could help in the prediction of specific contributions by these reactants ifbio-oils are co-processed in FCC units or upgraded over acidic catalysts.