Upgrading of bio-oil derived from tobacco using ferrierite, ZSM-5 and Co-Mo/Al2O3 catalysts

Abstract

This research aims to investigate bio-oil yield of tobacco leave by pyrolysis at 450-550oC. The bio-oil wasupgraded by ferrierite, ZSM-5, Al2O3, Co-Mo/Al2O3 and Mo2C catalysts. Pyrolysis was carried out in a semi-batch reactor with a space velocity of 1.7 h-1 under nitrogen atmosphere. The highest liquid yield of 47.1% was observed at 500oC with the high heating value of 36.3 MJ/kg oil (organic phase). Furthermore, char and gas yields were 36.7 and 16.2%, respectively. As a result, the high heating values of the bio-oils catalyzed at 500oC by ferrierite, ZSM-5, Al2O3, Mo2C and Co-Mo/Al2O3 were 22.5, 24.7, 26.1, 35.8 and 36.8 MJ/kg oil (organic phase), respectively.