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Results for “in situ data processing”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Precision Polishing of Spheres Via In-Situ Process Monitoring and Machine-Learning-Based Optimization

In inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments seeking output gains of unity and beyond, the quality of the ablator capsule is paramount for minimizing hydrodynamic mix that quenches the central hot spot. Defects in the form of foreign particles or missing mass on the surface and within the wall of the capsule are primary offenders. High density carbon capsules made for ICF experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) are precision polished to achieve the surface smoothness in the order of a few nm as well as to minimize isolated defects in the form of pits. Given the critical role of this process, we are developing smart manufacturing techniques with goal of elevating the efficiency of this process. Our approach is to use MEMS-based sensors to capture the fine vibrational signals generated during the polishing process and combine it with synchronized visual feedback as needed. Beyond using these sensors for process monitoring, we use specific deep learning methods to analyze the data and extract correlations with both the process parameters and the final performance of the polishing run. Here, we describe the multiple fronts that we have explored in this regard and the results we have gotten so far. This approach promises to have the potential to ultimately provide real-time feedback that can be used for ensuring the progress of the run as well as a means for faster optimization.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Projecting spatiotemporally explicit effects of climate change on stream temperature: A model comparison and implications for coldwater fishes

Conservation planners and resource managers seek information about how the availability and locations of cold-water habitats will change in the future and how these predictions vary among models. In this work, we used a physical process-based model to demonstrate the implications of climate change for streamflow and water temperature in two watersheds with distinctive flow regimes: the Snoqualmie watershed (WA) and Siletz watershed (OR), USA. Our model incorporated a downscaled ensemble of global climate model outputs and was calibrated with in situ and remotely sensed water temperatures. Furthermore, we compared predictions from our processed-based model to those from a publicly available and widely used statistical model. The process-based model projected greater changes in summer maximum water temperatures for the mixed-rain-snow Snoqualmie watershed than for the rain-dominated Siletz watershed as a result of the near-complete loss of winter snowpack and significant reduction in summer flow in the Snoqualmie watershed expected by the 2080s. Both models projected generally similar future spatial patterns of maximum water temperature in the two rivers, with cool reaches distributed farther upstream and fewer in number. However, the process-based model projected higher spatial heterogeneity in water temperature due to our spatially explicit simulation of streamflow and because we calibrated the model with spatially continuous remotely sensed water temperature data. We used stream temperature projections to assess the vulnerability of Pacific salmon and trout to changes in the spatial distribution of cold-water habitats during August by the 2080s. Results suggest that salmonids may have fewer summertime cold-water habitats in both watersheds. Projected stream warming may further limit particular species and life stages, especially in the Snoqualmie watershed. Our comparison of models highlights the importance of considering what might be gained by using a process-based model for evaluating and prioritizing management actions that mitigate climate impacts on cold-water habitats for stream fishes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

In-situ imaging of flexure-induced fracture in tape-laminate composites using high-resolution X-ray computed tomography

Here, this study presents development of an in-situ flexure test for imaging progressive inter- and intralaminar fracture in tape-laminate composites using X-ray computed tomography (CT). The intent of this test is to provide detailed experimental observations of ply-level damage that can be used to validate existing, and develop new, progressive damage analysis (PDA) tools. The test consists of a vertically mounted specimen which is flexed using two eccentric compressive loads using an in-situ uniaxial load stage. The flexure specimen contains a starter notch mid-span which promotes initiation of composite failure within the X-ray field of view. Specimens with two different laminate stacking sequences were tested, imaged, analyzed. For a quasi-isotropic laminate with large angle changes between adjacent plies, there was near simultaneous growth of transverse cracks and delaminations below the midplane of the laminate. For a laminate with small angles between adjacent plies, there was extensive formation of transverse crack networks which penetrated the laminate thickness without delamination growth. In addition to imaging fracture, the X-ray CT data from both specimen types were used to quantify the variability in thickness and analyze the local orientation of individual plies. Overall, the proposed test and the image-data analysis methodology provided an important insight into the fracture processes in tape laminates and highlights the inherent ply-level geometrical variabilities that should be accounted for in PDA simulations.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Precision Polishing of Ablator Capsules via in situ Process Monitoring and Machine Learning–Based Optimization

In inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments seeking output gains of unity and beyond, the quality of the ablator capsule is paramount for minimizing the hydrodynamic mix that quenches the central hot spot. Defects in the form of foreign particles or missing mass on the surface and within the wall of the capsule are primary offenders. High-density carbon capsules made for ICF experiments at the National Ignition Facility are precision polished to achieve surface smoothness on the order of a few nanometers as well as to minimize isolated defects in the form of pits. Given the critical role of this process, we are developing smart manufacturing techniques with the goal of elevating the efficiency of this process. Our approach is to use MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems)–based sensors to capture the fine vibration signals generated during the polishing process and combine them with synchronized visual feedback as needed. Beyond using these sensors for process monitoring, we use specific deep learning methods to analyze the data and extract correlations with both the process parameters and the final performance of the polishing run. Here, in this work, we describe the multiple fronts we have explored in this regard and the results we have gotten so far. This approach promises to have the potential to ultimately provide real-time feedback that can be used to ensure the progress of the run as well as a means for faster optimization.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

A data-driven method to estimate the antiproton background in Mu2e

The Mu2e experiment at Fermilab will search for the Charged Lepton Flavour Violating (CLFV) process of neutrinoless conversion of muon to electron in the field of an Al nucleus. The experimental signature is a monochromatic 104.97 MeV conversion electron. One of the expected backgrounds to the conversion electron search is antiprotons produced by the proton beam at the Production Target and annihilating in the Stopping Target (ST). The background expected from antiprotons is low but highly uncertain due to the uncertainty in the antiproton production cross section for the Mu2e beam energy in the relevant angular region. Antiprotons are significantly slower than the other beam particles, so they cannot be efficiently suppressed by the time window cut used to reduce the prompt background. At Mu2e energies, antiproton annihilation at rest in the ST is the only source of events with multiple, simultaneous particle trajectories. We utilized this unique feature and developed a novel way to reconstruct the multi-track events and estimate the antiproton background in situ.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Non-Invasive Electrode Impedance Estimation for Optimized Charge Profile Parameterization of Lithium-Ion Batteries

This work presents a non-invasive method for parameterizing a physically motivated equivalent circuit model of lithium-ion batteries using operando electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and time-domain data. The proposed model consists exclusively of linear circuit elements, enabling computationally efficient simulation and real-time implementation on battery management system chips. By integrating frequency- and time-domain measurements, the model accurately estimates internal states such as the negative electrode potential, achieving a root mean square error of 12.3 mV during fast charging validation. Parameterization requires only rate tests with sinusoidal perturbations at three different ambient temperatures, making the approach experimentally accessible. The model reveals key insights into battery behavior, including rate-dependent overpotentials primarily governed by charge transfer kinetics at the positive electrode, and temperature-dependent impedance contributions from both charge transfer and solid-state diffusion processes. Validation using reference electrodes confirms the model’s ability to detect lithium plating onset and reproduce impedance behavior across a wide range of operating conditions. The approach enables in situ optimization of fast charging profiles and lays the foundation for future extensions incorporating aging effects and plating dynamics.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Bridging New Observational Capabilities and Process-Level Simulation: Insights into Aerosol Roles in the Earth System

The spatial distribution of ambient aerosol particles significantly impacts aerosol–radiation–cloud interactions, which contribute to the largest uncertainty in global anthropogenic radiative forcing estimations. However, the atmospheric boundary layer and lower free troposphere have not been adequately sampled in terms of spatiotemporal resolution, hindering a comprehensive characterization of various atmospheric processes and impeding our understanding of the Earth system. To address this research data gap, we have leveraged the development of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and advanced measurement techniques to obtain mesoscale spatial data on aerosol microphysical and optical properties around the U.S. Southern Great Plains (SGP) atmospheric observatory. Our study also benefits from state-of-the-art laboratory facilities that include three-dimensional molecular imaging techniques enabled by secondary ion mass spectrometry and nanogram-level chemical composition analysis via micronebulization aerosol mass spectrometry. Through our study, we have developed a framework for observation–modeling integration, enabling an examination of how various assumptions about the organic–inorganic components mixing state, inferred from chemical analysis, affect clouds and radiation in observation-constrained model simulations. By integrating observational constraints (derived from offline chemical analysis of the aerosol surface using collected samples) with in situ UAS observations, we have identified a prominent role of organic-enriched nanometer layers located at the surface of aerosol particles in determining profiles of aerosol optical and hygroscopic properties over the SGP observatory. Furthermore, we have improved the agreement between predicted clouds and ground-based cloud lidar measurements. This UAS–model–laboratory integration exemplifies how these new advanced capabilities can significantly enhance our understanding of aerosol–radiation–cloud interactions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Performance of a ton-scale water-based liquid scintillator detector

This study reports the performance and light yield of 1% concentration water-based liquid scintillator (WbLS) deployed in a 1000-liter detector. A light yield of 99± 15 photons per MeV is determined by comparing data with simulation. This result aligns with our previous light yield determination using smaller detectors, thus establishing a solid foundation for the ongoing development and deployment of WbLS in larger-scale detectors. In conclusion, the feasibility of in situ preparation and the stability of light yield in WbLS are demonstrated, reinforcing its suitability for long-term experimental endeavors.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

In Situ Spectroscopic Monitoring of MSR Molten Salt and Off-Gas Systems

A significant challenge that must be overcome before commercialization of molten salt reactors is tracking special nuclear material (SNM) through the reactor and subsystems such as fuel chemical processing and off-gas systems. In recent years, several approaches have been explored to track SNM, fission products, and corrosion products in these different subsystems. One such approach is to employ laser and optical spectroscopy to measure the atomic and molecular signals of MSR salts. The advantages of these approaches are that they typically are non-intrusive and offer the capability of process monitoring while still providing low uncertainties. At the Idaho National Laboratory, spectroscopy approaches such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy have been utilized to investigate molten salts in an aerosol (LiCl, KCl, RbCl2, NdCl3, and PrCl3) and vapor phases (MgCl5, NdCl5, and ZrCl4) with success. Testing to date has yielded qualitative information on all the above species and quantitative data and analytical figures of merit for species in the vapor phases. These findings, including results from ongoing testing, as well as the experimental conditions and potential applications will be presented.

98 - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL↗
DOE OSTI2025

A data-driven method to estimate the antiproton background in the Mu2e experiment

The Mu2e experiment at Fermilab will search for the Charged Lepton Flavour Violating (CLFV) process of coherent, neutrinoless µ− → e − conversion in the field of an aluminum nucleus. The expected signal is a monochromatic electron with the energy of 104.97 MeV, slightly below the muon rest mass. Observation of a CLFV process would provide unambiguous evidence for Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics. Mu2e is sensitive to a wide range of BSM models and has the capability to distinguish between them, guiding us towards the most accurate models. The key features of the Mu2e experiment are: (1) a high intensity pulsed negative muon beam with about 1010 stopped µ −/s, and (2) a sophisticated superconducting solenoid system with a gradient magnetic field to form and guide the intense muon beam to the target. The Mu2e physics data taking is expected to begin in 2027. For Run I, the expected 5σ discovery sensitivity is Rµe = 1.2 × 10−15, with a total expected background of 0.11 ± 0.03 events. In the absence of a signal, the expected upper limit is Rµe < 6.2 × 10−16 at 90% CL. The success of this experiment hinges on the accurate estimation of the background from various SM processes that could provide signal-like electrons. One of the background processes is antiprotons annihilating in the stopping target to produce signal like electrons through π0 → γγ decays followed by γ conversions, and π− → µ−ν¯ decays followed by µ− decay. It is a relatively small background with large uncertainty (100%) due to the lack of antiproton production cross section information for the Mu2e proton beam energy of 8 GeV. We have developed a novel methodology to estimate the antiproton background in-situ. This forms the main theme of the thesis. We observed that at Mu2e energies, antiproton annihilation in the stopping target is the only source of events with multiple, simultaneous particle trajectories. From Geant4 simulations, only about 0.2% of the simulated antiproton annihilation events have a signal-like electron. Meanwhile, ∼ 5% of events have multiple reconstructible particle tracks per event. Therefore, we have devised a methodology to reconstruct the multi-track events and estimate the antiproton background by exploiting the large ratio of the production rates of the two final states.

Chithirasreemadam, Namitha [Pisa U.] (ORCID:000000↗
DOE OSTI2021

Structural Interconversion between Agglomerated Palladium Domains and Mononuclear Pd(II) Cations in Chabazite Zeolites

Palladium-exchanged zeolites are candidate materials for passive NO x adsorption in automotive exhaust aftertreatment, where mononuclear Pd cations behave as precursors to the purported NO x adsorption sites. Yet, the structures of zeolite lattice binding sites capable of stabilizing mononuclear Pd 2+ ions, and the mechanisms that interconvert agglomerated PdO and Pd domains into mononuclear Pd 2+ ions during Pd redispersion treatments, remain incompletely understood. In this work, we use a suite of spectroscopic methods and quantitative site titration techniques to characterize mononuclear and agglomerated Pd species on zeolites with varying material properties and treatment history. Aqueous-phase methods to introduce Pd onto NH 4 -form zeolites initially form mononuclear [Pd(NH 3 ) 4 ] 2+ complexes, but subsequent thermal treatments (573–723 K; air) lead to in situ formation of H 2 that first reduces Pd 2+ to metallic Pd domains, which are then oxidized by air to PdO domains. Progressive treatment of Pd-zeolites in air to higher temperatures (723–1023 K) converts larger fractions of agglomerated PdO to mononuclear Pd 2+ , as quantified by H 2 temperature programmed reduction, because higher temperature treatments facilitate Pd redispersion toward deeper locations within chabazite (CHA) crystallites, which is corroborated by complementary titrimetric and spectroscopic data. Pd-CHA zeolites synthesized with similar bulk Pd and framework Al content, but varying framework Al arrangement, provide evidence that six-membered rings (6-MR) hosting paired Al sites (Al–O–(Si–O) x –Al, x = 1, 2) stabilize Pd 2+ ions and that otherwise isolated Al sites can stabilize [PdOH] + species, identifiable by an IR OH stretch at 3660 cm –1 . These findings clarify the underlying chemical processes and gas environments that cause Pd agglomeration in zeolites and their subsequent redispersion to mononuclear Pd 2+ ions, which prefer binding at 6-MR paired Al sites in CHA, and indicate that higher temperature air treatments lead to more uniform Pd spatial distributions throughout zeolite crystallites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Spatiotemporal and Statistical Mapping of Transition Metal Equilibria in Alkaline Media

Transition metal dissolution and redeposition (D/R) kinetics in alkaline media play a critical role in various chemical and electrochemical processes. Competitive reaction kinetics between different transition metals can modulate individual metal behavior in these processes. To date, these phenomena have remained largely unmeasured, and even when captured, they are difficult to statistically characterize due to their dynamic nature, simultaneous occurrence, and spatially heterogeneous nature. Here, in this study, we develop a statistical analysis framework based on in situ and operando X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) to investigate the relative D/R kinetics of multiple transition metals in alkaline media. By employing statistical analysis, we quantify the spatial distribution of D/R species and assess the rate at which the system reaches equilibrium under varying reaction conditions. We show that pH does not simply change the rate of dissolution and redeposition, but reorganizes the cross-element kinetic correlations among Ni, Fe, and Mn and accelerates the spatial equilibration of D/R events, as quantified through correlation analysis, reaction-rate estimation, probability function distributions, and texture-based monitoring statistics. Additionally, we demonstrate how modifying the solvent environment can influence D/R kinetics, providing a pathway for tuning materials synthesis and process optimization. Our study offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between different transition metals and provides a reliable statistical framework for spatial analysis of diverse imaging data sets, enabling deeper extraction of latent information across multiple modalities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Air-sea interactions yielding rapid Beaufort Sea ice losses during the 2021 ONR THINICE Pilot Field Campaign

Seasonal sea ice coverage has declined in the Pacific Arctic region. Losses of the ice cover have modified the region’s surface heat and momentum fluxes providing weather systems more direct interaction with the upper ocean. For example, recent cyclones that have passed over these waters have initiated multiple air-sea interactions and have impacted mixed layer depth, wave properties, and sea ice mass budgets due to diabatic and/or advective processes. As a United States Office of Naval Research (ONR) Departmental Research initiative, one key component of the ONR THINICE program was to advance knowledge on Arctic cyclone coupling with the ocean surface, its ice cover, and understand how such coupling can lead to rapid ice loss. Leading up to the primary field campaign in August 2022, a pilot field campaign from 19 August to 13 September 2021 focused in Utqiagvik, Alaska and Longyearbyen, Svalbard was carried out. This period was marked by frequent Arctic cyclones, periods of strong low-level winds, and stints of extreme short-term Beaufort Sea ice area losses. Cyclones traversed these waters much more frequently than usual during this 26-day period, but did not exhibit extreme central pressures indicative of high intensity and impactful storms. Using ERA5 atmospheric reanalysis fields, CERES and AIRS surface flux retrievals, and in situ sensor data collected from ice-tethered profilers and ice mass balance buoys, we highlight air-sea-ice interactions in the Beaufort Sea during and between these cyclones leading up to extreme ice loss events. Our case study analysis is aimed at understanding how Arctic cyclones, including air-sea interactions prompted by their passage over the marginal ice zone, influence the end-of-summer ice conditions and ice loss events. This study provides an example where frequent, yet weak storms drive rather large marginal sea-scale losses albeit with heterogenous sea ice effects at local scales.

Ballinger, Thomas [International Arctic Research C↗
DOE OSTI2020

Reduction of uranyl and uranyl-organic complexes mediated by magnetite and ilmenite: A combined electrochemical AFM and DFT study

Reduction of mobile aqueous uranyl complexes can be hindered by the strength of the uranyl-ligand complex and the resistivity of the complexes to electron transfer. Semiconducting solids, such as magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) and ilmenite (FeTiO 3 ), can facilitate otherwise-slow electron transfer between the reductant and oxidant, especially if these species are adsorbed on their surfaces as inner-sphere complexes. Electrons can then be shuttled through the surface or the structure. This process can be facilitated by either finding a new electron transfer path or by weakening or destroying the ligand-uranyl complex. Using in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM), we imaged reduction products of uranyl as mediated by magnetite and ilmenite in the absence or presence of the organic ligands, ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) and oxalate. In situ images of uranyl reduction show gradual nucleation and growth of reduced uranium on the mineral surfaces with decreasing reduction potentials. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements indicate pentavalent uranium as the dominant uranium species resulting from uranyl reduction mediated by magnetite and ilmenite. The reduction potentials of uranyl-organic species relevant to our reaction system, (U VI O 2 ∙oxalate) 0 and (U VI O 2 ∙HEDTA) - , are derived using quantum–mechanical modeling and compared with the midpoint potentials obtained from cyclic voltammetry measurements. The spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational data suggest that the catalysis of Fe-bearing minerals facilitates the reduction of uranyl-organic complexes. U(VI)-oxalate complexes are redox-active and participate directly in the reduction mediated by magnetite. In the presence of EDTA, reduction of uranyl may proceed in concert with ligand exchange between metals (i.e., U and Fe) on the mineral surface. Finally, the proposed mechanism is the breaking of uranyl-organic bonds upon interaction with the mineral surface followed by the formation of Fe-organic bonds, thereby allowing the reduction of hexavalent uranyl to pentavalent one.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

A standardized quantitative analysis strategy for stable isotope probing metagenomics

ABSTRACT Stable isotope probing (SIP) facilitates culture-independent identification of active microbial populations within complex ecosystems through isotopic enrichment of nucleic acids. Many DNA-SIP studies rely on 16S rRNA gene sequences to identify active taxa, but connecting these sequences to specific bacterial genomes is often challenging. Here, we describe a standardized laboratory and analysis framework to quantify isotopic enrichment on a per-genome basis using shotgun metagenomics instead of 16S rRNA gene sequencing. To develop this framework, we explored various sample processing and analysis approaches using a designed microbiome where the identity of labeled genomes and their level of isotopic enrichment were experimentally controlled. With this ground truth dataset, we empirically assessed the accuracy of different analytical models for identifying active taxa and examined how sequencing depth impacts the detection of isotopically labeled genomes. We also demonstrate that using synthetic DNA internal standards to measure absolute genome abundances in SIP density fractions improves estimates of isotopic enrichment. In addition, our study illustrates the utility of internal standards to reveal anomalies in sample handling that could negatively impact SIP metagenomic analyses if left undetected. Finally, we present SIPmg , an R package to facilitate the estimation of absolute abundances and perform statistical analyses for identifying labeled genomes within SIP metagenomic data. This experimentally validated analysis framework strengthens the foundation of DNA-SIP metagenomics as a tool for accurately measuring the in situ activity of environmental microbial populations and assessing their genomic potential. IMPORTANCE Answering the questions, “who is eating what?” and “who is active?” within complex microbial communities is paramount for our ability to model, predict, and modulate microbiomes for improved human and planetary health. These questions can be pursued using stable isotope probing to track the incorporation of labeled compounds into cellular DNA during microbial growth. However, with traditional stable isotope methods, it is challenging to establish links between an active microorganism’s taxonomic identity and genome composition while providing quantitative estimates of the microorganism’s isotope incorporation rate. Here, we report an experimental and analytical workflow that lays the foundation for improved detection of metabolically active microorganisms and better quantitative estimates of genome-resolved isotope incorporation, which can be used to further refine ecosystem-scale models for carbon and nutrient fluxes within microbiomes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Warming amplifies the variability of methane emissions from a coastal wetland, 2025, Maryland.

These data accompany the published paper Lewis et al., 202X and are from a brackish coastal wetland in situ soil warming experiment (GENX) equipped with automated flux chambers. Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes were measured in 12 automated chambers using custom-built automated chambers connected to an LI-7810 CH4/CO2 analyzer. The chambers are 1.5 m tall and contain the dominant vegetation species of the site (Schoenoplectus americanus, Spartina patens, and Distichlis spicata). The chambers are also distributed across a soil warming gradient, ranging from ambient to 6°C above ambient, that was started in February 2022. This dataset contains the following files: (1) CH4 and CO2 fluxes from each chamber for March to November 2025, statistics for each flux, and environmental data (water depth, salinity, air temperature) at the time of the flux measurement; (2) 15-minute soil temperature data for each chamber; (3) Aboveground vegetation biomass (total and by species) and stem counts and dimensions for S. americanus; (4) Elevation for each chamber. All data processing code is available on Github.

Coastal wetland↗
DOE OSTI2020

Pyrolysis Vapor and Bio-Oil Preconditioning via Ex Situ Hydrodeoxygenation and Alkylation Using a Heteropolyacid Catalyst

Ex situ catalytic preconditioning of biomass pyrolysis vapors (partial deoxygenation) has the potential for both reducing the oxygen content and beneficially influencing the oxygen speciation of condense bio-oils for enhancement of downstream condensed phase upgrading processes. Here, condensed phase upgrading processes may refer to both coprocessing and hydroprocessing with vacuum gas-oil (VGO). Reduction of oxygen content to produce bio-oils with greater hydrophobicity can enhance VGO-solubility while tailoring of oxygen speciation by removal of reactive carbonyls (e.g., acetic acid) can lessen catalytic deactivation via coking reactions. 1,2 Furthermore, enhanced VGO-solubility and reduced coking leads to greater biogenic carbon incorporation in end-products from condensed phase upgrading processes. By leveraging the hydrodeoxygenation and alkylation activity of a titania-supported molybdenum-heteropolyacid (Mo-HPA/TiO2) catalyst, pyrolysis vapors and resulting condensed bio-oils were effectively preconditioned for downstream upgrading. 3 Data regarding the use of Mo-HPA/TiO2 for pyrolysis vapor preconditioning will be presented on, including method of employment, catalyst characterization, and impacts on bio-oil in relation to downstream condensed phase upgrading processes. Our approach is to: Compare Mo-HPA/TiO2 product distribution to HZSM-5; Investigate Mo-HPA/TiO2 regeneration and characterize changes in acid site character; Assess product differences in terms of enhanced VGO-solubility.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗