Packed-Bed Catalytic Cracking of Oak-Derived Pyrolytic Vapors

Catalytic upgrading of pyrolysis vapors derived from oak was carried out using a fixed-bed catalytic column at 425 degrees C. The vapors were drawn by splitting a fraction from the full stream of vapors produced at 500 degrees C in a 5 kg/h bench-scale fast pyrolysis reactor system downstream from the cyclone separator. The placement of the fixed-bed column was varied within the condenser train to determine the effect of temperature, residual water, solids, and oxygenated components of the approach vapor stream on the upgraded product quality. The upgraded liquid was collected by immediate contact with a dry ice acetone bath, complimented by a secondary collection system comprised of a methanol spray condenser. Quantitative gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis of the recovered liquid showed a substantial decrease of oxygen-containing species with a significant increase in carbon-rich (>= C(6)) aromatic hydrocarbons. The extent of deoxygenation was location-specific and dependent upon temperature and the relative concentrations of water, oxygenates, and residual solids in the approach vapor. The study provides the engineering practicality to catalytic vapor upgrading and offers the necessary data for the design and optimization of a full-stream upgrading of pyrolysis oils via in situ vapor cracking.