Author:
Royko Michael M.,Drummond Samuel M.,Boyt James,Ghoreishian Seyed Majid,Lauterbach Jochen
Abstract
Bio-oils produced from torrefaction or pyrolysis of biomass constitute an under-utilized product that generally requires complicated processing. The high acidity and water content pose storage and transportation issues, and the complex nature of the organic species makes utilization as a chemical feedstock troublesome. Most methodologies to separate and upgrade bio-oils involve multiple distinct steps and solvent-based extractions, complicating the process and adding cost. In this work, we demonstrate a simple one-step solution using ammonia to separate the aqueous and organic phases of a model bio-oil. This process produces an aqueous phase that contains ammonium species that could be utilized as a fertilizer and an organic phase that can be used as an additive for transportation fuels or could be burned to produce electricity.
Subject
Economics and Econometrics,Energy Engineering and Power Technology,Fuel Technology,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment