Hydrodeoxygenation of crude bio-oil in situ in the bio-oil aqueous phase with addition of zero-valent aluminum

Abstract This study investigated the influence of the ratios of zero-valent aluminum (ZV-Al) to bio-oil aqueous phase (1/25, 1.5/25, and 2/25 g/mL) on hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of crude bio-oil (CBO) with in situ hydrogen generated via the reaction of ZV-Al and the aqueous phase. The reaction of ZV-Al and the aqueous phase produced more hydrogen than the reaction of ZV-Al and water due to the aqueous phase reforming reactions. ZV-Al to the aqueous phase ratio had a positive impact on the in situ HDO of CBO. When the ratio of ZV-Al to the aqueous phase was 2/25 g/mL, the UBO yield was 39.03 wt% with a higher heating value of 38.53 MJ/kg. The highest degree of deoxygenation (76.38%) and the minimum of O/C molar ratio (0.07) were also obtained at the ratio of 2/25 g/mL. The reaction of ZV-Al and the aqueous phase for in situ HDO can significantly promote deoxygenation reactions.