Hydrodeoxygenation of Palm Kernel Shells Derived Bio‐Oil Using Supported Ru and Pd Catalysts

Abstract

Biomass-derived bio-oil is a renewable liquid fuel that contains a high amount of oxygen with a low calorific value. Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO), as one of the methods to increase the calorific value of bio-oil, was conducted in an autoclave-type reactor at 250 °C with an initial H 2 pressure of 20 bar for 4 h using Ru/C and Pd/C catalysts with a metal precursor loading of 1, 3, and 5 wt.%. The HDO reaction using Ru(5 %)/C had a higher degree of deoxygenation (47 %). A higher yield (78 wt.%) of the oil phase was produced after the reaction using Pd(3 %)/C. The HDO reaction using Ru(5 %)/C and Pd-(3 %)/C catalysts could increase the calorific value of bio-oil from 23.3 to 29.8 and 28.5 MJ/kg, respectively.