Liquefaction of aspen poplar wood

Abstract

Dried and green aspen poplar wood suspended in water containing alkaline catalysts has been converted completely to an oil, water-soluble chemicals and gases if heated for one hour in the presence of carbon monoxide in a rocking batch reactor. Within the ranges of parameters studied: temperature (593—633 K), nominal reaction times (0—1 h), water-to-wood ratio (0.5:1—5:1), catalyst (Na₂CO₃, K₂CO₃, NaOH), amount of catalyst (7.0—12.5 wt %) and initial hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratios (2:1—0:1), the water-to-wood ratio was most important. Oil yields of ˜50% with a carbon plus hydrogen content of ˜80% and representing a carbon recovery of ˜66% were obtained. The higher heats of combustion ranged from 32.2 to 36.0 MJ/kg.