WP 2.3 Pyrolysis oil-based products (KIT – IKFT)

In this work package, a process for the hydrogenation of biogenic pyrolysis oils is being developed in order to provide high-quality fuel components for synthetic marine fuels. The aim is to develop a scalable process that enables the conversion of pyrolysis oil into specification-compliant fuel fractions.

Initially, various catalyst systems will be tested to determine the optimum hydrogenation and conditioning of pyrolysis oil fractions. The effects of separate processing of heavy and light fractions on fuel quality will be investigated. Pyrolysis oils from various biogenic residues – including wood, wheat straw and sugar cane bagasse – are used and comprehensively analysed for this purpose.

Based on the most promising catalysts and process conditions, product samples are produced on a miniplant scale in a pilot plant. These serve as the basis for further tests on fuel compatibility. At the same time, an industrial process concept is being developed that takes into account the integration of the technology into a sustainable refinery. Particular challenges lie in characterising the complex mixtures of substances and optimising the process parameters to ensure efficient and economical fuel production.

Innovations
By combining state-of-the-art catalyst and process development, this work package enables product-flexible co-production of petrol, diesel and paraffin with optimised application properties. The process route is designed to efficiently utilise various biogenic residues in accordance with the requirements of the RED II/IX Directive and to provide specified intermediate products that can be further processed in a targeted manner. This contributes to the technological validation of sustainable fuels and opens up new possibilities for environmentally friendly and economically viable fuel production.