Conversion of Pyrolysis Oil

1- and 2- tetralones are used as the representative compound in biomass-derived pyrolysis oil (or bio-oil). This work focused on conversion of oxygenated aromatic compounds over HY zeolite. The reactions were conducted in fixed-bed reactor at 300, 400 and 500 ºC under hydrogen atmospheric pressure. Pure feeds were introduced to the reactor by using a bubbler in order to minimize condensation or solvent problems. It was found that 2-tetralone is thermally unstable and has a higher reactivity than 1-tetralone. Gaseous products were analyzed by on-line GC. Hydrogen abstraction (i.e. naphthol product) and coupling (i.e. heavies) were the main reaction paths. Deoxygenation (i.e. to tetralin and naphthol) products was a slower path.