Fractionation and characterization of bio-oil from microwave-assisted pyrolysis of corn stover

Bio-oil from thermochemical conversion of biomass is a complex mixture of polar and non-polar compounds, and cannot be used directly as a combustion engine fuel due to its low heating value, high viscosity, chemical instability, and incomplete volatility. Mixed-solvent extraction was developed to fractionate bio-oils from microwave-assisted pyrolysis of corn stover to produce light oil (a mixture of light and inflammable fuel oil components from bio-oil) with low viscosity and low combustion residue, and high value chemicals. Different fractions from bio-oil were characterized using GC/MS and TG, and a major chemical (hydroxy-butanedioic acid diethyl ester) was separated.