Fast pyrolysis oil can be upgraded by a catalytic hydrotreatment (250-4008C, 100-200 bar) using heterogeneous catalysts such as Ru/C to hydrocarbon-like products that can serve as liquid transportation fuels. Insight into the complex reaction pathways of the various component fractions during hydrotreatment is desirable to reduce the formation of by-products such as char and gaseous components. This paper deals with the catalytic hydrotreatment of representative model components for the carbohydrate fraction (viz., D-glucose and D-cellobiose) present in concentrations of 20-40% in fast pyrolysis oils. The hydrotreatment was conducted at a temperature of 2508C and 100 bar hydrogen using Ru and Pd on carbon catalysts in water. Two parallel reaction pathways are then observed, a thermal noncatalyzed pathway leading to insoluble humins (char) and a hydrogenation pathway leading to smaller polyols and gaseous hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane. The implications of these findings for the catalytic hydrotreatment of fast pyrolysis oil are discussed.
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