EUBCE 2026 - Andreas APFELBACHER - Thermal Influence on the Yield and Composition of Hydrogenated Bio-Oil derived from Hops

Thermal Influence on the Yield and Composition of Hydrogenated Bio-Oil derived from Hops

Short Introductive summary

Bio-oil produced through thermo-catalytic reforming (TCR®) of biogenic residues has emerged as a promising renewable resource that can be further upgraded by catalytic hydrogenation to produce advanced liquid fuels. In contrast to conventional pyrolysis oils, whose upgrading is inherently hampered by high volatility and elevated content of heteroatoms such as oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, TCR®-derived bio-oil exhibits lower heteroatom contents and higher energy density, making it a more suitable candidate for refining into high-quality fuels. This study investigates the hydrogenation of TCR®-bio-oil derived from hops, with a particular focus on compositional changes, energy content, and fuel properties after hydrogenation. The results were compared with the existing hydrogenation results from pyrolysis-derived bio-oil. The primary objective of this work is to optimize bio-oil upgrading conditions through hydrogenation to produce cleaner, more environmentally sustainable fuels that are compatible with existing energy infrastructure, thereby contributing to the development of a sustainable, low-carbon energy system.

I.T. Suleiman, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental Safety and Energy technology., Sulzbach-Rosenberg, GERMANY
T.E. Mueller, Ruhr University, Bochum, GERMANY
A. Apfelbacher, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental Safety and Energy technology., Sulzbach-Rosenberg, GERMANY
S. Holz, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental Safety and Energy technology., Sulzbach-Rosenberg, GERMANY
R. Daschner, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental Safety and Energy technology., Sulzbach-Rosenberg, GERMANY