Catalytic Upgrading of Biomass-Derived Bio-oils
Summary
Biomass-derived bio-oils, produced predominantly by fast pyrolysis of lignocellulosic feedstocks, present a renewable alternative to fossil-based liquids. However, their high oxygen content, chemical complexity and instability hinder direct use as transport fuels or refinery feedstocks. Catalytic upgrading encompasses a suite of processes—chiefly hydrotreatment and hydrodeoxygenation—that transform reactive oxygenates into stable, energy-dense hydrocarbons. By selectively removing oxygen and reorganising molecular structures, catalysts reduce acidity, viscosity and propensity for polymerisation, while enhancing calorific value and compatibility with existing infrastructure. Recent advances in catalyst design have targeted increased selectivity towards desirable fractions (such as jet-range alkanes or aromatics), improved resistance to deactivation by coke formation and scalable reaction conditions. Emerging strategies include the utilisation of bimetallic or supported noble-metal systems, integration of bio-char supports to confer tailored acidity and pore architecture, and the blending of bio-oils with triglyceride-rich streams to exploit synergistic hydrogen donation. Collectively, these innovations are moving catalytic upgrading towards industrial relevance by addressing feedstock heterogeneity, minimising hydrogen consumption and aligning product distributions with market needs in sectors such as aviation, marine transport and petrochemical precursors.
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Catalytic Upgrading of Biomass-Derived Bio-oils publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in catalytic upgrading of biomass-derived bio-oils across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Bio-oil: A complex liquid mixture obtained from the fast pyrolysis of biomass, rich in oxygenated organic compounds and prone to instability.
Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO): A catalytic process that removes oxygen atoms from bio-oils by reaction with hydrogen, yielding hydrocarbons and water.
Catalytic hydrotreatment: A broad term for hydrogen-assisted upgrading reactions, including HDO, hydrogenation and hydrocracking, aimed at stabilising bio-oils.
Fast pyrolysis: A thermochemical conversion technique involving rapid heating of biomass in the absence of oxygen to produce bio-oil, gas and char.
Pyrolytic lignin: The water-insoluble, aromatic-rich fraction of bio-oil derived from lignin depolymerisation during pyrolysis, requiring specialised upgrading routes.
References
- Stabilization of fresh and aged simulated pyrolysis oil through mild hydrotreatment using noble metal catalysts. Energy Conversion and Management (2024).
- Hydrotreatment of pyrolysis bio-oil with non-edible carinata oil and poultry fat for producing transportation fuels. Fuel Processing Technology (2023).
- Hydrotreatment of pyrolytic lignins to aromatics and phenolics using heterogeneous catalysts. Fuel Processing Technology (2019).
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