Study on the Removal of Metals from Pyrolysis Oil with Ion-Exchange Resins at Ambient Conditions

An ion-exchange process for removal of metals from liquid pyrolysis oil at ambient temperature has been developed. Pyrolysis oil is first blended with a polar and low-viscosity organic solvent or a solvent mixture to adjust its kinematic viscosity to about 60 mm2/s or less. The blended oil is then treated with strongly acidic ion-exchange resin. The metal content in the treated oil can be reduced to 5 ppm or less. The equilibrium isotherm and kinetic studies indicate that the exchange is a pseudo-first-order process. The rate order observed is Na+ > K+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ ≫ Fe3+.