Atmospheric-pressure catalytic cracking of tri-pyrolysis oil over a low-cost CaO–MgO/bentonite catalyst: Effects of catalyst loading and feedstock composition on gasoline-range yield and acidity
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Pyrolysis oils are strongly acidic and contain a large fraction of material boiling above the gasoline range, which limits their direct use as transport fuel. This study examined the catalytic cracking of a tri-pyrolysis oil (TPO) over a low-cost CaO–MgO/bentonite catalyst in an atmospheric-pressure packed-bed reactor at 450°C to convert the heavier fractions into gasoline-range liquid. Catalyst loading was varied from 1.0 to 1.5 kg using the as-received oil, and a second set cracked only the residue remaining after the gasoline fraction had been distilled off. Raising the catalyst loading intensified secondary cracking without benefit: the condensate yield fell from 54.5 to 16.5 wt% while non-condensable gas rose from 39.5 to 68.5 wt%, so that 1.0 kg gave the highest liquid yield. Distilling the gasoline cut beforehand and cracking only the residue raised the overall gasoline-range yield from 29.67 to 44.91 wt% of the original oil. Gas chromatography showed that both the directly distilled and the cracked gasoline cuts were clean gasoline-range distillates (99.4 and 98.8 area% C5–C12), the cracked cut showing a broader carbon-number distribution consistent with fragmentation of the heavier feedstock. The acid number of the gasoline cut fell from 12.04 to 1.76 mg KOH/g and its viscosity to 0.83 cSt, within the range typical of commercial gasoline. The catalyst gained 63 g per kilogram charged, consistent with stoichiometric capture of the feed acidity as calcium carboxylate rather than catalytic deoxygenation. X-ray diffraction confirmed that calcination converts the catalyst precursor into the intended CaO–MgO active-phase composition.
Source: Results in Engineering
Institution: Srinakharinwirot University
Language: English
Subfield: Fuel Technology
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,940
OpenAlex ID: W7223273349