Catalysts for Improving Pyrolysis Oil Quality
8 patents in this list
Updated:
Pyrolysis oil derived from waste materials typically contains high levels of oxygenates, sulfur compounds, and unsaturated hydrocarbons that limit its direct use as fuel. Current processes yield oils with oxygen content above 20 wt%, acid numbers exceeding 100 mg KOH/g, and heating values below 20 MJ/kg—far from the specifications required for commercial fuel applications.
The fundamental challenge lies in selectively removing heteroatoms and stabilizing reactive compounds while maintaining economically viable conversion rates and catalyst longevity.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including ammonia-assisted pyrolysis, dual-stage catalytic processes, specialized metal oxide catalysts, and integrated hydropyrolysis approaches. These and other techniques focus on improving oil quality metrics while addressing practical constraints around catalyst deactivation and process economics.
1. Method for Producing Oil from Waste Tires via Ammonia Pyrolysis and Catalytic Hydrogen Refinement
NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, UNIV NANJING FORESTRY, 2021
A method for producing high-quality oil from waste tires that involves crushing the tires, pyrolyzing them in an ammonia atmosphere under pressure, separating the pyrolysis liquid, and then refining it using hydrogen and catalysts. The pyrolysis in ammonia improves the oil quality compared to regular pyrolysis. The crushing step allows better pyrolysis. The refining step using hydrogen and catalysts further improves the oil quality.
2. Two-Step Heavy Oil Processing with Catalytic Hydropyrolysis and Plasma Gasification
OOO FIRMA PLAZMOKHIM, OOO PLAZMOKHIM FA, 2002
A method to increase the yield of light fractions from heavy oils like high-sulfur crude oil. The method involves a two-step process. First, a light catalytic hydropyrolysis step using hydrogen and catalyst at high pressure and temperature to convert the heavy oil into light fractions like gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and vacuum gas oil. Second, plasma gasification of the heavy residue from the first step using a mixed plasma of water vapor and synthesis gas to further convert it into synthesis gas, hydrogen sulfide, and metal concentrate. This second step reduces the metal content of the heavy residue, preventing catalyst poisoning in further processing steps.
3. Recycling Method for Waste Tires and Rubber via Carbon Co-Processing at Elevated Temperatures
CONSEJO SUPERIOR INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS, 2001
A method to recycle waste tires and rubber by co-processing with carbon to produce synthetic oils and storable heat energy products. The method involves mixing crushed waste tires, carbon, and optionally a Fe catalyst. The mixture is heated at 400-600°C for 1-2 hours to convert the rubber and carbon into oils, gases, and solid residues. The oils can be fractionated for use as fuels or chemicals, and the solid residues have medium and high caloric value for energy storage. The Fe catalyst helps fix oxygenates and sulfur.
4. Rubber Waste Conversion via Catalytic High-Temperature Low-Pressure Cracking with Closed-Loop Gas Recycling
FUBAOCHENG INDUSTRY & TRADE CO, FUBAOCHENG INDUSTRY & TRADE CO LTD, 1993
Recycling rubber waste into useful fuel oil and gas without causing pollution. The method involves mixing rubber waste with a catalyst and cracking it at high temperature and low pressure in a reactor to produce gas. The gas is then catalytically reacted and condensed to separate oil and gas. The recovered gas is recycled back into the reactor and catalytic tube. This closed loop allows processing rubber waste into saleable products without environmental harm.
5. Catalytic Cracking Process for Waste Rubber Using Calcium Oxide-Nickel-XT-10 Catalyst Composition
FULL BORN CHEN INDUSTRIAL CO LTD, 1993
A process for efficiently converting waste rubber into fuel oil and gas by cracking the rubber using a specific catalyst composition. The catalyst contains calcium oxide (CaO), nickel (Ni), XT-10 (a mixture of minerals), and trace amounts of niobium and titanium. The catalyst is reacted with waste rubber at temperatures around 280°C under pressure. The resulting products are filtered, condensed, and fractionated into light oil, heavy oil, and gas for storage. The catalyst allows rapid cracking of the rubber into fuels in just 2 hours.
6. Catalytic Cracking Process for Rubber Waste Using CaO-Ni-XT-10-Niobium-Titanium Catalyst
FUBAOCHENG INDUSTRY CO LTD, 1993
Recycling rubber waste into fuel oil, gas, and carbon black by cracking the rubber with a specific catalyst and process. The catalyst is a mixture of calcium oxide (CaO), nickel (Ni), XT-10, niobium, and titanium. The rubber waste is heated in a sealed reactor with the catalyst to soften and melt, then cracked at high temperatures to produce flammable gases and oils. The gases are separated and stored, while the carbon black and remaining solids are collected. The process converts rubber waste into useful resources instead of landfilling.
7. Catalyst Composition for Biomass Conversion to Hydrocarbons with Alumina and Optional Silica, Zeolites, Rare Earth Oxides, and Sodium Oxide
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE, 1991
Catalytic conversion of biomass materials like plant oils, animal oils, and rubber into hydrocarbons like gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fuel. The conversion is done using a catalyst containing alumina with optional additions of silica, zeolites, rare earth oxides, and sodium oxide. The catalyst composition and amounts are optimized to efficiently crack the biomass feedstock into hydrocarbons. The process is energy efficient and provides a route to produce renewable fuels from biomass resources.
8. Catalytic Cracking Process for Waste Polymers in Petroleum Oils at Elevated Temperatures
MOBIL OIL CORP, 1978
A process for converting waste rubber and plastics into fuel and chemicals by catalytically cracking a mixture of the solid polymers with petroleum-derived streams. The process involves dissolving or dispersing the waste polymers in petroleum oils at temperatures around 300-600°C in the absence of air and hydrogen. This breaks down the polymers into smaller hydrocarbon molecules that can be cracked into fuels and chemicals using catalysts like in petroleum refining. The petroleum oils used are aromatic streams like FCC heavy cycle oil. The process avoids burning the waste polymers and reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to incineration.