Real waste derived bio-oil upgrading by new-type (SO42-)RM/HZSM-5 and (SO42-)RM/Y-zeolite catalysts through the esterification of acidic components

• Catalysts were synthetized for bio-oil esterification containing red mud and zeolites • Biomass-derived bio-oil has more carboxylic acid and phenolic compounds, than RDF derived • Catalysts significantly reduced the acid numbers of bio-oils as a function of reaction time • Due to esterification reactions, the carboxylic acid and aldehyde content of bio-oils decreased significantly • (SO 4 2- )RM/HZSM-5, (SO 4 2- )RM/Y-zeolite reduce the activation energy of esterification New-type (SO 4 2- )RM/HZSM-5 and (SO 4 2- )RM/Y-zeolite catalysts were developed for real bio-oil upgrading. Biomass derived bio-oil has higher acid number and contains more carboxylic acid or phenolic compounds, than that of refuse derived fuel sourced bio-oil. The esterification process was made at 120°C, 140°C and 160°C with real bio-oil and 1-decanol (ratio of 1:1.25). Catalysts significantly reduced the acid numbers as function of reaction time. The decrement in the acid numbers in case of biomass sources bio-oil was 23.5%, 48.1%, and 44.8%, while that of the RDF derived bio-oil was 37.8%, 53.8%, and 55.0% at 120°C, 140°C and 160°C, respectively. Significantly lower acid numbers were found at higher temperatures; besides, the carboxylic acid and aldehyde content of bio-oils decreased significantly due to esterification. The amounts of phenolic compounds and ketones only changed slightly. The activation energy of esterification reactions was calculated by a pseudo-homogeneous kinetic model. The activation energy decreased from 51.1kJ/mol to 35.0kJ/mol ((SO 4 2- )RM/HZSM-5) and to 34.8kJ/mol ((SO 4 2- )RM/Y-zeolite) in case of biomass derived bio-oil. In case of refuse derived fuel sourced bio-oil, the activation energy decreased from 42.0kJ/mol to 25.7kJ/mol ((SO 4 2- )RM/HZSM-5) and to 23.8kJ/mol ((SO 4 2- )RM/Y-zeolite). It was confirmed, that multi-component catalysts had been produced by mixing the Y-zeolite and experimentally synthetized ZSM-5 zeolite with a waste derived red mud and their modification by sulfuric acid and the subsequent mechano-chemical activation. Catalysts may have potential industrial value in bio-oil upgrading obtained by real waste, and in the reduction of temperature and energy consumption required for chemical reactions.