Molecular composition of oxygenated compounds in fast pyrolysis bio-oil and its supercritical fluid extracts

Abstract A three-step supercritical CO 2 extraction was used for selective fractionation of fast pyrolysis bio-oil. Oxygen-containing compounds in bio-oil and its fractions were characterized using infrared spectroscopy (IR), 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and negative-ion electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). With appropriate optimization of extraction parameters, lipids, hemicellulose, lignin and condensed aromatics were found enriched in three different fractions. The molecular composition and compound classes were identified by combined analytical techniques, and the selectivity of the fractionation was proved. The compound-type-specific fractionation also facilitated the following characterization and provided insights into the chemical composition of bio-oil. Results indicated that CO 2 supercritical fluid extraction was potential for bio-oil preprocessing.