The production of synthetic organic liquids from wood using a modified nickel catalyst

Extended batch reactions show that fast‐growing hybrid poplar suspended in water is completely converted to oil and some gas when stirred at 340°C in the presence of Raney nickel. The oil is less viscous when hydrogen is present at sufficiently high pressure. The catalyst is stable up to the maximum time studied (14 hours). The oils typically contain 77% carbon, 7.5‐8.5% hydrogen, and 12‐13% oxygen, have viscosities in the range 5000‐8000 mPa.s and higher heating values of around 35 MJ.kg −1 . Nickel produced by reduction of nickel carbonate in situ is also an effective and more practical catalyst.