(591e) Bio-Oil Distillate Bottoms: Characterization and Applications

Tail-gas reactive pyrolysis (TGRP) produces a bio-oil that is distillable into fractions of commodity chemicals, without the requirement of hydrotreatment or HDO. While significant yields of valuable distillate compounds are attainable (55 - 65%), the distillate bottoms constitute a significant byproduct. Past studies on traditional bio-oil distillation produced very small yields of valuable compounds, so very few studies investigated the properties of distillate bottoms for further use. Useful properties and applications for bio-oil distillate bottoms would undoubtedly improve the economics of a pyrolysis biorefinery. In this study, bottoms products were characterized for their chemical and materials properties. Bottoms samples were categorized according to the feedstock type (switchgrass, horse manure, eucalyptus) and pyrolysis process type (traditional, catalytic, TGRP). We characterized distillate bottoms samples with elemental analysis, SEM, XRD, and temperature programmed oxidation (TPO). All bottoms products exhibited enhanced thermal stability, as compared with traditional pyrolysis biochar. TGRP bio-oil bottoms possessed higher heating values that were significantly greater than petroleum coke or coal. Other structure/property relationships will be discussed, as they pertain to the characterization methods used and potential applications.