Componential Analysis of Esterified Bio-Oil Prepared from Pyrolysis of Rice Stalk

Bio-oil, with high oxygen-containing character, which was prepared from flash pyrolysis of rice stalk powders, was upgraded by the method of catalytic esterification with methanol. The esterified oil was distilled stepwise from 60 degrees C to 105 degrees C, and the fractions were analyzed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) for the distribution of species. It was found that 58% of the components were detected in the fraction of 60 degrees C-80 degrees C, with 1,1-dimethoxypropan-2-one was the most abundant species. The residue, in which the boiling point of species were higher than 105 degrees C were resolved in acetone, and also analyzed with GC/MS. The results showed that phenols are the most abundant species, and following the ketones and hydrocarbons.