Development and Mechanisms of Hydrodeoxygenation Catalysts for Upgrading Pyrolysis Oil

We are working on ways to turn wood into liquid fuels for transportation and heating.  This fuel contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.  It is necessary to remove some of the oxygen to increase the energy content of the fuel.  One method of removing some of the oxygen is to react it with hydrogen over a metal oxide catalyst.  In order to understand this upgrading process, we have chosen to work with a simple compound instead of the more complicated whole oils.  We study the reactions of this compound in an experimental reactor to determine the amount of oxygen removed.  We have also studied these reactions using theoretical methods to understand the mechanism of this upgrading process.