Catalytic upgrading of bio-oil and bio-crude oil to synthetic transportation fuels

Increased fuel demands, CO2 buildup in the atmosphere as well as depletion of conventional fossil sources necessitate the search for alternative renewable and environment-friendly energy sources. Biomass-derived fuels embrace a promising route in this context. The pyrolysis process converts biomass into bio-oil, biochar, and non-condensable gases. Most of the compositional characteristics of bio-oil resemble fossil-derived diesel and gasoline. However, its high oxygen content renders it relatively unstable, acidic, and a low heating content fuel. Therefore the replacement of conventional petroleum fuels with synthetic bio-oil-based fuels demands the upgradation of their properties. There are different techniques of bio-oil upgradation, each of which has been described in detail in the current chapter together with their recent advances. Furthermore, techno-economic and environmental implications of bio-oil-based synthetic transportation fuels have also been outlined to explore their potential for large-scale replaceability of conventional fossil fuels in near future.