A novel processing paradigm: oxidation of pyrolysis oil to high value chemicals

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Canada's forest industry is undergoing a revolution as it innovates new products and markets and refreshes its labour force. Pyrolysis of forest residues is an exciting opportunity to diversify Canada's forest products portfolio but the use of pyrolysis oil as a fuel remains challenging. This project proposes an alternative processing paradigm: partial oxidation of pyrolysis oil to high-value chemicals such as carboxylic acids with a wide range of applications such as polymers, resins, food processing, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. In this study, pyrolysis oil fractions and model compounds will be subjected to gas phase catalytic partial oxidation to assess technical feasibility. The effect of temperature, space velocity, reactant concentrations, and catalyst (vanadium on titania support) on conversion and product yield and selectivity will be determined. Thermal oxidation will be performed as a comparator to catalytic oxidation. Reactant and product composition will be determined by gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The catalyst will be characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Oxidation of pyrolysis oil fractions will reveal operating challenges (e.g. catalyst coking) and the chemicals most likely responsible for these issues. Model compounds will be used to identify reaction mechanisms. The project will prepare a MASc student and two undergraduate students to contribute to the revolution of the Canadian forest industry. Successful completion of this project will lay the foundation for the commercialization of pyrolysis oil oxidation to high value chemicals thus supporting strong, sustainable economic performance by forestry companies, vibrant rural communities, and the establishment of a low carbon economy.