A heterogeneous catalytic process to mitigate the acidity of bio-oils caused by the presence of volatile organic acids

MONTAÑA, MAIA; NAVAS, MARISA B.; BIDEBERRIPE, HERNÁN P.; BARBELLI, MARÍA L.; LICK, ILEANA D.; CASELLA, MÓNICA L.

FUEL

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Año: 2021 vol. 299

0016-2361

The removal of the acidity produced by the presence of volatile organic acids in bio-oils, such as acetic acid, assisted by heterogeneous catalysts was investigated. For this purpose, CaO and alumina-supported catalysts were prepared, and silver nanoparticles were used as promoter. The prepared catalysts, both fresh and postreaction, were characterized by several techniques: N2 physisorption (BET), SEM-EDS, TEM, XRD, and TPR. All catalysts were tested in the elimination of acetic acid, employing two different reaction systems: batch microreactors and a pressurized batch reactor. An appreciable CH3COOH elimination of ~60%?70% was obtained at low temperature (150?200 ◦C) using the CaO-Al2O3 system. The addition of silver improved the removal percentage. Silver-supported catalysts were also tested in a pressure-controlled system, achieving an excellent percentage of acetic acid removed (~97.5%). Silver would promote the incipient reactions of catalytic ketonization and aldol condensation.