US Patent 9222044 Methods for producing low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oils

Methods for producing low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil are provided. Starting biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is deoxygenated by exposing the biomass-derived oil to a first catalyst in the presence of hydrogen-containing gas at first hydroprocessing conditions to produce a partially deoxygenated biomass-derived pyrolysis oil. The first catalyst has a neutral catalyst support. The partially deoxygenated biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is exposed to a second catalyst in the presence of additional hydrogen-containing gas at second hydroprocessing conditions to produce a hydrocarbon product. The biomass-derived pyrolysis oil may be esterified prior to deoxygenation. A portion of the low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is recycled.