Model compound approach to design process and select catalysts for in-situ bio-oil upgrading

Upgrading of pyrolysis bio-oil from biomass suggests great environmental and economical advantages for the production of renewable and sustainable energy sources. However, there are considerable challenges in the development of techno-economically feasible processes and catalysts. One promising approach is in-situ vapor phase upgrading, which demonstrates numerous benefits.Due to the highly complex nature of bio-oil, understanding the reaction pathways for each kind of compound conversion is highly desirable for catalyst and process screening. Therefore, the study of model compounds is the first step in simplifying the complexity of the problem.This investigation presents a summary of invaluable model compound based approach research to develop the fundamental processes and catalysts knowledge required to design upgrading strategies of fast pyrolysis bio-oil to achieve a stable product. Key upgrading reactions for the various oxygenated compounds available in pyrolysis vapor, comprising aldol condensation, deoxygenation, alkylation and aromatization are explained. Model compound studies have also been crucial to understanding catalyst behavior for a certain process and identifying potential means to mitigate catalyst deactivation. The knowledge gained from the model compound studies can be correlated to actual pyrolysis bio-oil vapor upgrading.