Next-generation biofuels have been widely investigated because they have particular advantages compared to firstgeneration biofuels. Pyrolysis is an example of a thermochemical route extensively used in oil and coal industries worldwide to produce these biofuels. Strategies for low-cost upgrading are among the biggest challenges facing the adoption of bio-oils in the development of commercial biofuels. Specific biomass sources could be the best option for generating bio-oil with the required properties. For this, it is necessary to understand the composition of these biomasses and their bio-oils. Here, we analyzed bio-oil samples from the fast pyrolysis of different biomasses collected during two different steps of the process by direct-infusion highresolution mass spectrometry. First, a comparative study of two common high-resolution mass spectrometers, quadrupole timeof-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS) and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), was performed to validate the methodology and to investigate the differences in mass discrimination and resolution. FT-ICR MS showed the best performance because of its unsurpassed resolution and accuracy. We apply the common petroleomics tools to interpret the mass spectra obtained. The FT-ICR MS analysis reveals that bio-oils are dominated by O x species. The class profile of bio-oils was strongly affected by the biomass and steps of the pyrolysis process.
The introduction of biomass-derived compounds as an alternative feed into the refinery structure that already exists can potentially converge energy uses with ecological sustainability. Herein, we present an approach to produce a bio-oil based on carbohydrate-derived isopropylidene ketals obtained by reaction with acetone under acidic conditions directly from second-generation biomass. The obtained bio-oil showed a greater chemical inertness and miscibility with gasoil than typical bio-oil from fast pyrolysis. Catalytic upgrading of the bio-oil over zeolites (USY and Beta) yielded gasoline with a high octane number. Moreover, the co-processing of gasoil and bio-oil improved the gasoline yield and quality compared to pure gasoil and also reduced the amount of oxygenated compounds and coke compared with pure bio-oil, which demonstrates a synergistic effect.
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