Technology Assessment of Upgrading Bio-oil

This report is about the current progress on the proposed topic which is "Technology
Assessment of Upgrading Bio-oil". The objectives of this project are to study on the
methods availableof upgrading the bio-oil in terms of the advantages and disadvantages
of each method. The methods that have been identified to upgrade bio-oil are
hydrotreatment, catalytic cracking, emulfication and steam reforming. For each of the
technology, estimated cost analysis and iCON simulation will be done. The
methodology for this project is identifying technology available for upgrading bio-oil,
extensive research will be done by analyzing relevant journals and obtaining
information from applicable books, comparing results and findings from journals,
obtaining estimated cost analysis for each technology and modeling by using iCON
process simulation. In term of material costs, the most feasible technology would be
emulsification. However, emulsification did not change the physical properties of the
upgraded bio-oil. Thus, emulsification can still caused corrosiveness to the equipment
that uses the fuel. For the time being, iCON simulation can only be done for steam
reforming. From the simulation, the optimum operating condition for steam reforming
is 5 bar for operating pressure, operating temperature of 800 °C and steam to carbon
ratio(S/C)of5.
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