US 11,421,165 B2 · Disaggregation of biomass pyrolysis oil

Abstract

Described is a novel process for disaggregating biomass pyrolysis oil quantitatively into energy dense hydrophobic aromatic fraction (HAF), fermentable pyrolytic sugars and phenolics based products in a highly economical and energy efficient manner. Phase separation of the esterified pyrolysis oil after an oxidative pre-treatment and the quantitative recovery of the separate fractions is described. Phase separation uses batch as well as continuous reactor systems. The resulting HAF is an energy dense, thermally stable, water free, non-corrosive to carbon steel, and is a free flowing liquid suitable for combustion and for upgrading to transportation fuels. Pyrolytic sugars which are mainly anhydrosugars can be further converted by fermentation to ethanol or other products. Monomeric phenols are useful industrial intermediates and the organic acids in the original pyrolysis oil are mainly recovered as esters of the separation solvents.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A process for quantitatively fractionating pyrolysis oil (PO), said process comprising the steps of:

a) contacting a feedstock comprising PO obtained by pyrolysis of biomass with an oxidizing agent to produce a pre-treated or oxidised PO;
and
b) contacting the pre-treated or oxidised PO with an alcohol in the presence of acid catalyst to produce a two phase mixture comprising:
(i) an organic phase comprises comprising the alcohol solvent, the HAF and the acid ester of the solvent;
and
(ii) an aqueous phase comprising primarily carbohydrate derived from the PO, acids, monomeric phenols, and water,
wherein the amount of alcohol is based on a determined amount of pyrolignin in the PO.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Disaggregation of biomass pyrolysis oil

Life of this patent

Disaggregation of biomass pyrolysis oil

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20