The catalytic hydrotreatment of peat pyrolysate oils

A 65 wt % yield of hexane‐soluble liquid, containing 83% of the feed carbon, was obtained when Finnish Carex‐peat pyrolysate was hydrotreated batchwise (21.5 MPa for two hours at 390°C with 10 wt % catalyst, 4% CoO/15.5% MoO3 on γ‐alumina). Oxygen content was lowered from 22% to 3% in the process. Nitrogen and sulphur contents of the product were 4.3% and 0.10%, respectively. Straight‐chain material predominated in the upgraded product and C14‐C29 n‐alkanes have been identified along with some phenols. The peat pyrolysate is also predominantly straight‐chain material, but contains polar functionalities such as the carboxyl group.