Upgrading fusel oil mixtures over heterogeneous catalysts to higher value renewable chemicals
AssigneeGevo, Inc.
InventorJonathan O. Smith
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Abstract
This present disclosure relates to catalytic processes for upgrading crude and/or refined fusel oil mixtures to higher value renewable chemicals, via mixed metal oxide or zeolite catalysts. Disclosed herein are processes passing a vaporized stream of crude and/or refined fusel oils over various mixed metal oxide catalysts, metal doped zeolites, or non-metal doped zeolites and/or metal oxides providing options to valorize fusel oil mixtures to higher value products. Renewable chemicals formed, via these upgrading catalyst platforms, are comprised of, but not limited to, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), di-isobutyl ketone (DIBK), isoamylene, and isoprene.
Claims71
A process for preparing a renewable chemical, comprising:
- (a) feeding to a reactor a reactor feed comprising a mixture of C3-C6 alcohols at a concentration of at least about 75 wt. %;
- and
- (b) contacting the mixture of C3-C6 alcohols with a mixed oxide catalyst in the reactor, the mixed oxide catalyst having a formula Znv/Mgw/Cux/Mny/Zrz, whereby the mixture is converted to at least one renewable chemical at a yield of at least about 25 wt. %,
- wherein either
- (i) V is 1 to 10, W is 1 to 50, X is 0 to 20, Y is 1 to 50, Z is 1 to 180, wherein atomic ratios of each of V and W, relative to Y or Z, are each 1 to 10, and wherein atomic ratios for Y and Z relative to each other is 1 to 16;
- or
- (ii) V is 0 to 10, W is 0 to 50, X is 0 to 20, Y is 1 to 50, Z is 1 to 180, wherein atomic ratios of each of V and W, relative to Y or Z, are each 0 to 10, and wherein atomic ratios for Y and Z relative to each other is 3 to 6.
A process for converting fusel oil comprising one or more C2-C6 linear or branched alcohols to a product comprising at least one of a ketone, an olefin, a di-olefin, or an aldehyde, comprising contacting the fusel oil with a mixed metal oxide manganese/zirconium catalyst, doped with an element selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, copper, and combinations thereof.
A process for converting fusel oil comprising one or more C2-C5 linear or branched alcohols to a product comprising C5 olefins, comprising contacting the fusel oil with a mixed γ-alumina catalyst, optionally doped with potassium.
A process for converting fusel oil comprising one or more C2-C5 linear or branched alcohols to a product comprising isoprene, comprising catalytically reacting the fusel oil with a zinc oxide catalyst to provide an intermediate comprising one or more C5 aldehydes, then reacting the intermediate with a mixed acidic ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst doped with boron and phosphorus to provide the product comprising isoprene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.