Vacuum distillation of raw bio-crude oil (RBCO) from empty fruit bunches (EFB) pyrolysis to produce light distillate containing acetic acid and phenol for sustainable chemical purposes

Sustainable chemical production through biomass pyrolysis is attractive. This is necessary to suppress massive dependence on fossil resources. Nevertheless, the liquid product as raw bio-crude oil (RBCO) from biomass pyrolysis still contains high water content. In this study, batch vacuum distillation of RBCO from empty fruit bunches (EFB) pyrolysis was performed at 80\(-\)95 °C and 30\(-\)45 kPa to produce light distillate. The highest yield of light distillate is acquired at 69.73–88.27% under 95 °C and 30 kPa. The functional groups in RBCO and light distillate indicate the presence of water (O–H bond), acetic acid (C = O bond), and phenol (C = C–C aromatic ring and O–H bond). This is also proven by the results from Karl-Fischer of RBCO that water contained at 66.77% whereas GC–MS of RBCO show the concentrations of acetic acid is 16.02% and phenol is 26.53%. Physically, the light distillate had a light brown color and smoky odor, with density range of 0.96–0.99 g/ml and viscosity range of 0.60–0.93 cP. According to this study, light distillate has water content of 70.57–98.81%. During vacuum distillation, acetic acid and phenol, as the major chemicals contained in RBCO, are also dissolved in the aqueous phase with the highest concentrations of 0.28% and 0.09%, respectively. Looking at its chemical components, this light distillate has the potential for food preservatives or agricultural biopesticides.