A high-pressure once-through plug-flow-reactor system is reported for characterization of hydroprocessing reactions of biomass-derived compounds. All of the reactants are liquids. Data are presented for conversion of guaiacol catalyzed by Pt/MgO and, in much less detail, CoMo/Al 2 O 3 . The data demonstrate the advantages of high pressure in such reactions, determining a pseudo-first-order rate constant for guaiacol conversion at 523 K and 69 bar of approximately 55 L of organic reactant solution (g of catalyst) −1 h −1 . This value is 2 orders of magnitude greater than that observed at 573 K and 1.4 bar.

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Catalytic upgrading of bio-oils formed in the pyrolysis of biomass represents a promising approach to the production of renewable fuels and platform chemicals. Development of fundamental information needed for commercialization of bio-oil upgrading requires analytical methods for characterization of complex mixtures. We report data characterizing the conversion of a prototypical bio-oil product, 2-butanone, catalyzed by the zeolite HZSM-5 at 300 °C and a quantitative analysis of the products by a multiple-detector gas chromatographic technique complemented by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. 2-Butanone was chosen as the reactant because it is converted into a wide range of compounds representing functional groups characteristic of products of bio-oil conversion; 140 products were identified. Among those in the liquid phase for which standards were available, linear (correlation coefficient R > 0.998) calibrations were obtained over concentration ranges typically found in bio-oil products. Results were reproducible with a relative standard deviation (% RSD; n = 3) less than 5% for repeated injections for all products, except n-hexane. Many of the products were recovered in both the gas and liquid phases, and overall recoveries are reported that are dependent upon boiling point and conversion to other products. The reported procedures include an accurate method for measurement of water, a product of almost all bio-oil conversion processes.