Liquid bio-oil, which is the product of biomass pyrolysis, is a complicated mixture of oxygenate compounds (appr. 300). It has an energy density up to 10 times higher than the raw biomass, but its acidity, along with the low heating value, make it not stable with time, whereas aqueous/organic fractions separation can take place. These properties are rather discouraging the use of bio-oil as transportation fuel and make its catalytic upgrading a necessity of tremendous importance. Herein, the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and zeolite cracking reactions are proposed as efficient ways towards upgrading the properties of bio-oil. These two processes are chosen as they allow us flexibility in the process design, i.e., the co-feeding of hydrogen and the reaction pressure. In particular, HDO reaction requires hydrogen and thus operates at high pressures, whereas zeolites cracking does not. In addition, engineering of catalysts shape and electronic properties will be explored through a meticulous choice of synthesis approaches and ab-initio calculations towards a sustainable final product. The overarching goal is to tackle the coke deposition during the HDO. The project has a duration of three years with a budget of 1,074,605 AED. The team is composed of a PI and three co-PIs with complementary expertise in the field, leading to synergies that will move the outcome of the project far beyond their individual research projects.
