Acid Separation from Bio-Oil Using Ionic Liquid

Studies on reducing the high acid concentration in bio-oil using ionic liquid as a new
separation method needs to be conducted. Organic acid that contains in bio-oil
supposed to be able to be extracted using two types of ionic liquid which are 1-butyl-
3-methylimidazolium thiocynate [Bmim][SCN] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium
trifluoromethanesulfonate [Bmim][OTf]. Studies on bio-oil upgrading are necessary
in order to improve its efficiency as an alternative fuel and to put it on par with fossil
fuel as the world is approaching towards a "greener" source of energy. The objective
of this project is mainly to study the acid separation from bio-oil using two types of
ionic liquids which are [Bmim][SCN] and [Bmim][OTf] by analysing the amount of
acetic acid after the separation in both upper and lower phase of liquids that are
formed using Gas Chromatography (GC). The methodology for this project consists
of extraction procedure and analysis of the amount of acetic acid after extraction
using GC-Flame Ionization Detector. Findings show that the ionic liquid are able to
extract acetic acid contains in bio-oil however it will also extract other components,
like phenol, hence prohibiting two phase separation.