Catalytic fast pyrolysis of hazelnut cupula: Characterization of bio-oil

Abstract

In this study, the aim as to characterize to bio-oil, obtained hazelnut cupula via catalytic fast pyrolysis in a fixed bed tubular reactor. The hazelnut cupula sample nvestigated in this study has been taken from Trabzon, located in Black Sea Region of Turkey. The liquid phase, obtained bio-oils without and with ZnO catalyst consisted aqueous and oil phases, which were separated and weighed. The pentane soluble phase yields of 56.00% and 68.60% were obtained without and with catalyst at 600 degrees C, respectively. The oil phase and the subfractions of pentane-soluble fraction, obtained without and with ZnO catalyst were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and the pentane subfraction was analyzed by gas chromatography. It, was determined that the ratio of oxygen in bio-oil reduced from 18.15 wt% to 11.75 wt% with the use of ZnO catalyst (6 wt% of feed). The action of the ZnO catalyst in removing the oxygen from the bio-oil is evident from the much reduced oxygen content of the oils. According to the experimental results the liquid products can be used as liquid fuels and chemical feedstock.