Storage Stability of Bio-oils Derived from the Catalytic Conversion of Softwood Kraft Lignin in Subcritical Water
Journal article, 2016

The stability of lignin-derived bio-oil obtained from a continuous process [base (K2CO3)-catalyzed, using phenol as a capping agent] under subcritical conditions of water (25 MPa, 290-370 degrees C) was investigated. The lignin-derived bio-oil obtained was stored at ambient temperature for 2 years. Our results show that the base concentration in the feed solution affects the stability of this lignin-derived bio-oil during its long-term storage. It was found that, at low base concentrations (i.e., 0.4%-1.0%), the yields of all lignin-derived bio-oil fractions were relatively stable. At high base concentrations (i.e., 1.6%-2.2%), however, the yield of high-molecular-weight (high-Mw) structures increased and that of low-molecular-weight (low-Mw) structures decreased after storage. This indicated that the low-Mw materials had been polymerized to form high-Mw materials. In addition, it was found that the yield of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-identified compounds (excluding phenol) in this lignin-derived bio-oil decreased from 15% to 11%. This is probably due to the presence of solids in these lignin derived bio-oils, which promotes the catalytic polymerization reactions, suggesting that it is beneficial to remove the solids from this lignin-derived bio-oil in order to enhance its stability. Compared to the results obtained from bio-oil derived from biomass pyrolysis, our results show that bio-oil derived from the conversion of lignin in subcritical water has better chemical stability during long-term storage.

Author

Huyen Lyckeskog

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Cecilia Mattsson

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Lars-Erik Åmand

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Industrial Energy Systems and Technologies

Lars Olausson

Valmet

Sven-Ingvar Andersson

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Lennart Vamling

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Hans Theliander

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Energy & Fuels

0887-0624 (ISSN) 1520-5029 (eISSN)

Vol. 30 4 3097-3106

Subject Categories

Polymer Chemistry

DOI

10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6b00087

More information

Latest update

9/15/2020