The liquefaction characteristics of poplar under CuMgAlOx catalysis in supercritical methanol

Abstract

In an effort to explore the potential energy of biomass and reduce industrial reliance on fossil fuels, this study investigates the liquefaction of poplar wood using supercritical methanol and a CuMgAlOx catalyst. It assesses the composition of liquefied products and performs a comprehensive life‐cycle assessment. Results display that at 360°C, with 1 h of CuMgAlOx, poplar wood's conversion rate reached 98.4%. The proportion of alcoholic compounds in the liquefaction products increased dramatically from 7.99% without a catalyst to 70.81% with it, a rise of 786.23%. Moreover, the process's global warming potential (GWP) intensity is significantly lower at 0.886 gCO2eq/MJ compared to the 93 gCO2eq/MJ from conventional petroleum refining, underscoring its substantial emission reduction potential.