Hydrotreating of Phenolic Compounds Separated from Bio-oil to Alcohols

Phenolic compounds in bio-oil are not stable and difficult to be upgraded to ideal fuels. In this study, simulated bio-oil as well as phenolic compounds separated from bio-oil by glycerol-assisted distillation were hydrotreated by Ru/SBA-15 catalyst and completely converted into C3 to C10 alcohols at mild conditions, which could be a feasible way to transfer the phenolic compounds in bio-oil or other real systems from lignin decomposition into high heating-value liquid fuel or fuel additives. The stability of the Ru/SBA-15 catalyst was also investigated. It was found that Ru/SBA-15 was stable with phenolic compounds in the simulated bio-oil but not in a real one.