The model ketone of bio-oil, 2-furyl methyl ketone (FMK) or 1-(2-furanyl)-ethanone, which is the main component in Saccharina (Laminaria)Japonica (S. Japonica) pyrolysis products, was successfully upgraded into methyl cyclopentane in the liquid phase and methane in the gas phase. Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of FMK over cobalt based phosphide supported on gamma-Al2O3 substrates made the conversion possible and highly effective. Complete HDO of FMK into methyl cyclopentane and methane was achievable at 400 degrees C reaction temperature using CoP/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst synthesized with 10 wt.% Co loading and calcined at 500 degrees C. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.