Due to the complexity of bio-oil many studies have focused on model compounds which mimic components in bio-oil. In this paper, the hydrogenation of short chain (C2-C4) carboxylic acids in hexane using a Parr reactor and commercial Pt supported on Al2O3, SiO2, carbon and graphite and prepared Pt and Pt-Re on TiO2 catalysts was studied. With acetic acid, ethanol selectivity was found to be 80% (4%Pt-4%Re/TiO2), 23% (4%Pt/TiO2) and no ethanol was observed with the other catalysts at 200 °C, 40 bar, 0.3 g catalyst and 1000 min-1. A Taguchi optimization approach was carried out from temperature 80-200 °C, pressure 10-40 bar, time 1-4 h, catalyst 0.1-0.4 g and stirring speed 400-1000 min-1 using 4%Pt/TiO2. The optimum conditions determined were 160 °C, 40 bar, 4 h, 0.4 g and 1000 min-1 for ethanol production. 4%Pt/TiO2 was

Petroleum is non-renewable and contributes to environmental pollution, thus biooil can be substituted as a potential alternative. However, bio-oil in its crude form cannot be used directly as fuel since it contains high proportion of oxygenated, acidic and reactive compounds such as carboxylic acids. These are known to cause corrosion of vessels and pipework, instability and phase separation. The heating value of bio-oil can be improved through hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). In this study, HDO of acetic acid is presented, being a typical model compound found in bio-oil. Kinetic data were obtained over the range of temperature: 175-210 ºC, hydrogen pressure: 20-50 bar, initial acetic acid concentration: 0.16-0.521 M and catalyst loading: 0.2-0.5 g, in a 100mL batch reactor using 4% Pt/TiO2. It was found that catalyst particle sizes < 65 μm and a stirring speed of 1000 min-1 were sufficient to overcome internal and external mass transfer

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