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Detailed characterization of in situ-generated MoS2 nanoparticles for the hydrodeoxygenation of pyrolysis oil

Elmroth Nordlander, Jonas LU ; Bergvall, Niklas LU ; Sala, Simone LU ; Reinsdorf, Ole ; Kahnt, Maik LU orcid ; Turato, Enrico LU orcid ; Beech, Jason P. LU ; Johansson, Ann Christine ; Sandström, Linda and Blomberg, Sara LU (2026) In Renewable Energy 263.
Abstract

The production of fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) from secondary biomass is a promising technique for the production of liquid biofuels. However, the resulting FPBO is often viscous and chemically unstable, requiring significant upgrading while also being difficult to work with. To overcome this issue, FPBO can be hydrotreated using slurry hydrotreatment, which has a long history as a processing technique for upgrading viscous and difficult-to-work-with vacuum residues, and as such presents a solution. In this processing technique, the hydrotreatment catalyst is usually generated as dispersed MoS2 nanoparticles to improve feedstock-catalyst contact, as well as avert the diffusion problems that arise when utilizing a... (More)

The production of fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) from secondary biomass is a promising technique for the production of liquid biofuels. However, the resulting FPBO is often viscous and chemically unstable, requiring significant upgrading while also being difficult to work with. To overcome this issue, FPBO can be hydrotreated using slurry hydrotreatment, which has a long history as a processing technique for upgrading viscous and difficult-to-work-with vacuum residues, and as such presents a solution. In this processing technique, the hydrotreatment catalyst is usually generated as dispersed MoS2 nanoparticles to improve feedstock-catalyst contact, as well as avert the diffusion problems that arise when utilizing a traditional, porous packed bed with a viscous feedstock. However, for such nanoparticulate dispersed catalysts, the nanoparticle structure and morphology play an important role in dictating activity and product distribution. Although much work has been done on characterizing dispersed MoS2 catalysts in the context of vacuum residues, such data is still scarce in the context of upgrading bio-oils. In this publication, we present a detailed characterization of in situ-generated MoS2 nanoparticles for the catalytic hydrotreatment of FPBO in a technology readiness level 5 (TRL5) slurry hydroprocessing plant. The results indicate a significant effect of the bio-based feedstock on the nanoparticle morphology, providing a starting point for further investigations into optimization of catalytic activity in the context of slurry hydrotrotreatment of bio-based feedstocks.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Renewable Energy
volume
263
article number
125530
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105033079553
ISSN
0960-1481
DOI
10.1016/j.renene.2026.125530
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
id
93df17c6-483a-4867-8029-a8a26884c1d4
date added to LUP
2026-04-01 10:56:35
date last changed
2026-04-07 10:09:04
@article{93df17c6-483a-4867-8029-a8a26884c1d4,
  abstract     = {{<p>The production of fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) from secondary biomass is a promising technique for the production of liquid biofuels. However, the resulting FPBO is often viscous and chemically unstable, requiring significant upgrading while also being difficult to work with. To overcome this issue, FPBO can be hydrotreated using slurry hydrotreatment, which has a long history as a processing technique for upgrading viscous and difficult-to-work-with vacuum residues, and as such presents a solution. In this processing technique, the hydrotreatment catalyst is usually generated as dispersed MoS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles to improve feedstock-catalyst contact, as well as avert the diffusion problems that arise when utilizing a traditional, porous packed bed with a viscous feedstock. However, for such nanoparticulate dispersed catalysts, the nanoparticle structure and morphology play an important role in dictating activity and product distribution. Although much work has been done on characterizing dispersed MoS<sub>2</sub> catalysts in the context of vacuum residues, such data is still scarce in the context of upgrading bio-oils. In this publication, we present a detailed characterization of in situ-generated MoS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles for the catalytic hydrotreatment of FPBO in a technology readiness level 5 (TRL5) slurry hydroprocessing plant. The results indicate a significant effect of the bio-based feedstock on the nanoparticle morphology, providing a starting point for further investigations into optimization of catalytic activity in the context of slurry hydrotrotreatment of bio-based feedstocks.</p>}},
  author       = {{Elmroth Nordlander, Jonas and Bergvall, Niklas and Sala, Simone and Reinsdorf, Ole and Kahnt, Maik and Turato, Enrico and Beech, Jason P. and Johansson, Ann Christine and Sandström, Linda and Blomberg, Sara}},
  issn         = {{0960-1481}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Renewable Energy}},
  title        = {{Detailed characterization of in situ-generated MoS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles for the hydrodeoxygenation of pyrolysis oil}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2026.125530}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.renene.2026.125530}},
  volume       = {{263}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}