Hydro-pyrolysis of biomass was studied at 500 degrees C and atmospheric pressure, applying Al2O3 supported platinum and sodium carbonate catalysts. CO chemisorption has shown that platinum particles are well dispersed in Pt/Al2O3 catalyst while they get agglomerated in Pt-Na2CO3/Al2O3. The co-impregnated or sequentially impregnated Pt-Na/Al2O3 catalysts have not shown improvement compared to either Na2CO3/Al2O3 or Pt/Al2O3 catalysts when it comes to quality of bio-oil. A dual bed system in which Na2CO3/Al2O3 and Pt/Al2O3 are packed in two consecutive beds has combined the advantages of all catalytic systems, resulting in high quality bio-oil with oxygen content 5.6 wt.% and HHV 42 MJ kg(-1). N-butane shows equivalent performance as hydrogen in hydro-pyrolysis of biomass, opening new possibility for economical hydrogen sources. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.