The transformation of biomass into renewable fuels necessarily involves liquid phases both because liquids are produced directly during pyrolysis (or hydrothermal liquefaction) and because upgrading the gaseous products without condensation produces mainly light hydrocarbons that will not satisfy upcoming demands for transportation fuels. The condensed phases contain a broad mixture of lipophilic, hydrophilic and ambiphilic species whose interactions with the surfaces of contact catalysts generate local compositions governed by both liquid-liquid interactions and liquid-solid interactions. We report on the role of entropy and enthalpy in determining speciation at the solid/liquid interface, with the goal of assisting the design of catalyst supports that could, in principle, enhance activity in hydrotreating of bio-oil intermediates and products.

Speciation at liquid-solid interfaces in the processing of renewable fuels

251st National Meeting (2016)

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