Directing the Catalytic Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Lignocellulosic Biocrudes

About the Project

The key aim is to improve our ability to control composition of biocrude and influence the Hydrothermal Liquefactions (HTL) processing parameters to tailor the chemical composition of the biocrude product.

The overall objective is to improve the properties of our Industry partner’s, Licella, biocrude product from the liquefaction of waste cellulosic biomass and making further valorisation of whole biocrude or fractions thereof more attractive.

This aim requires an intimate knowledge of the composition of the biocrude and how the HTL process can be rationally directed to give a more desirable feedstock.

Hence this PhD project will be conducted in conjunction with a another PhD project in which HTL derived biocrudes are rigorously characterised in detail.

Feedback between the 2 concurrent PhD projects is envisaged such that: this Catalytic PhD’s biocrude will provide the raw material for the Analytical PhD’s analyses and the Analytical PhD’s results will assist the Catalytic PhD student to make informed choices about varying the Cat-HTR process parameters and catalyst inputs, as described below.

The desired outcome is a better understanding of fundamental reaction processes, improved biocrude properties, and direction of fractions to refiners for subsequent upgrading.

Industrial targets for Licella include being able to minimise high molecular weight fractions;reduce hydrogen burden for HDO and appropriately fractionate the biocrude into cuts that can be used for renewable monomers or other chemical feedstocks.

References:

https://www.mmy-group.com.au/publications.html

Funding Notes:

CRC SPW

Enquiries:

https://www.mmy-group.com.au/projects.html

Application Web Page:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedKWurtM6x0PITa2lj10hSdUD-0R9fYmyTCLBclM46pApBVg/viewform