Transformations of phenol into fuel over TiO2–CeO2/ZSM-5 aided by ultrasound and ultraviolet

• Transformations of phenol into fuel were studied by TiO2–CeO2/ZSM-5.
• The gasoline yield and diesel yield was 50.1% and 44.1%, respectively.
• The content of aromatic compounds and alkane compounds in refined oil was higher than that in biomass crude oil, and phenol compound content has a significant decrease.

A novel technology, named transformations of phenol into fuel over TiO2–CeO2/ZSM-5 aided by ultrasound and ultraviolet (TPFU), was developed. ZSM-5 zeolite was adjusted by TiO2 and CeO2 by means of impregnation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis indicated the ZSM-5 remained intact after modification, and the titanium and cerium partly entered the catalyst channel. The effect of temperature, pressure, space speed, and phenol to the catalyst ratio on the production yield was studied. The model compounds were transformed into fuel on the conditions of temperature 300 °C; pressure 0.11 MPa, space velocity 1.0 h−1, and the ratio 1.5. Gasoline and diesel oil yield, and phenol compound conversion rate reached the maximum values of 50.1%, 44.1% and 98.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, biomass oil was transformed into fuel under the best conditions. The content of aromatic compounds and alkane compounds in refined oil was higher than that in biomass crude oil, and phenol content has a significant decrease.