Cellulosic biomass can be directly converted to high‐quality hydrocarbon transportation fuels through the use of integrated hydropyrolysis plus hydroconversion (IH2®). IH2® is a new process which has been developed which has excellent economics, and low greenhouse gas emissions. Experimental data from a 50 kg/day continuous IH2® pilot plant is presented which demonstrates the production of high‐quality gasoline and diesel fuels over 750 h of continuous testing. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 762–768, 2014

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The efficacy of steam reforming of the aqueous species in bio-oils produced from the fast pyrolysis of biomass is examined. A fractionating condenser system was used to collect a set of fractions of fast pyrolysis liquids with different chemical characteristics. The water-soluble components from the different fractions were steamreformed using a nickel-based commercial catalyst in a fixed-bed reactor system. When reforming at 500 °C, an overall positive effect in hydrogen yields was observed for the fractions with higher concentrations of lower molecular-weight oxygenates, such as acetic acid and acetol, while the heavier compounds, such as the carbohydrates, showed an opposite effect. In general, higher selectivity toward hydrogen correlated to a lower tendency toward carbon deposits. Overall, the bio-oil fraction corresponding to the light end performed the best with the highest activity toward hydrogen. A range of steam/carbon ratios was examined. Carbon accumulation in the reactor was clearly a main issue during steam reforming of all of the bio-oil fractions studied. Chemical changes caused by aging of aqueous bio-oil were found to have a detrimental effect on hydrogen production. ABSTRACT: The efficacy of steam reforming of the aqueous species in bio-oils produced from the fast pyrolysis of biomass is examined. A fractionating condenser system was used to collect a set of fractions of fast pyrolysis liquids with different chemical characteristics. The water-soluble components from the different fractions were steam-reformed using a nickel-based commercial catalyst in a fixed-bed reactor system. When reforming at 500°C, an overall positive effect in hydrogen yields was observed for the fractions with higher concentrations of lower molecular-weight oxygenates, such as acetic acid and acetol, while the heavier compounds, such as the carbohydrates, showed an opposite effect. In general, higher selectivity toward hydrogen correlated to a lower tendency toward carbon deposits. Overall, the bio-oil fraction corresponding to the light end performed the best with the highest activity toward hydrogen. A range of steam/carbon ratios was examined. Carbon accumulation in the reactor was clearly a main issue during steam reforming of all of the bio-oil fractions studied. Chemical changes caused by aging of aqueous bio-oil were found to have a detrimental effect on hydrogen production.