Ni₂Fe₃ Metal Catalyst and Cellulose Ratio Impact on Pyrolyzed Bio-Oil

Energy Science and Engineering, Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan

^* Corresponding author: cross.j.aa@m.titech.ac.jp

Abstract

Carbon neutral bio-oil is needed to replace liquid fossil fuels in order to reduce CO₂ emissions and global warming. However, the quality of bio-oil produced from biomass contains too much sugar, which is undesirable. Investigating a new method to reduce sugar concentration by changing the ratio between cellulose and catalyst is necessary because other methods all require additional costs. In this study, the Ni₂Fe₃ and cellulose have been chosen as the model catalyst and model biomass compound, respectively. Five different ratios have been chosen for investigation, 4:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4 (weight ratio= cellulose: catalyst) The cellulose pyrolysis experiments results show the bio-oil yield increases as the catalyst amount or ratio is increased initially and then decreased. The 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 shows the highest yields among the five different ratios. From GC-MS analysis, the sugar reduction increases initially and then decreases. Based on both results, the best cellulose/catalyst ratio was 2:1 or 1:1, which is attributed to optimized heat conduction.