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A series of NiO/HZSM-5 catalysts were used to convert alkali lignin to hydrocarbon biofuels in a two-stage catalytic pyrolysis system. The results indicated that all NiO/HZSM-5 catalysts reduced the content of undesirable phenols, furans, and alcohols of the biofuel compared to non-catalytic treatment. The NiO/HZSM-5 catalyst with the lowest amount of NiO generated the highest biofuel yield in all catalytic treatments, and it also produced biofuel with the highest content of hydrocarbons. The emission of carbon oxides (CO and CO2) increased in the treatments with higher-NiO loading HZSM-5 due to the redox reaction between NiO and the oxygenated compounds in the bio-oil. Ni2SiO4 was generated in the used NiO/HZSM-5 catalysts during the high-temperature pyrolysis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]