Lignin Upgrading for Hydroprocessing to Biofuel
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsJames F. Stevens, William Lawrence Schinski
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Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to methods for processing lignin-containing biomass so as to render it more amenable to hydroprocessing, wherein such processing typically reduces the level of oxygen in the biomass. Following such processing, the resulting reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product can be hydroprocessed into a biofuel suitable for use as a transportation fuel. Additionally, in some embodiments, such methods can be integrated with one or more other processes, wherein such other processes can be production and/or logistical in nature.
Claims25
A method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a quantity of biomass, said biomass comprising a lignin fraction and a holocellulosic fraction;
- b) processing the biomass so as to obtain a lignin-rich intermediate, wherein the lignin-rich intermediate comprises a lignin component and a holocellulosic component, wherein the holocellulosic component accounts for not more than 50 weight percent of the lignin-rich intermediate;
- and wherein the weight percent of the holocellulosic component in the lignin-rich intermediate is less than the weight percent of the holocellulosic fraction in the biomass;
- and
- c) subjecting at least a portion of the lignin-rich intermediate to a high-temperature hydrolysis so as to yield a reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product, wherein said high-temperature hydrolysis is carried out at a temperature of from at least about 220° C. to at most about 300° C., and wherein said reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product has an oxygen content of not more than 25 weight percent on an ash-free basis.
A method comprising the steps of:
- a) processing a quantity of biomass, said biomass comprising a lignin fraction and a holocellulosic fraction, so as to obtain a lignin-rich intermediate, wherein the lignin-rich intermediate comprises an oxygen content of not less than 30 weight percent on an ash-free basis;
- and
- b) subjecting at least a portion of the lignin-rich intermediate to a high-temperature hydrolysis so as to yield a reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product, wherein said high-temperature hydrolysis is carried out at a temperature of from at least about 220° C. to at most about 300° C., and wherein said reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product has an oxygen content of not more than 25 weight percent on an ash-free basis.
A method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a quantity of lignin-containing biomass, said biomass comprising an oxygen content of not less than 30 weight percent on an ash-free basis;
- and
- b) subjecting at least a portion of the lignin-containing biomass to a high-temperature hydrolysis so as to yield a reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product, wherein said high-temperature hydrolysis is carried out at a temperature of from at least about 220° C. to at most about 300° C., and wherein said reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product has an oxygen content of not more than 25 weight percent on an ash-free basis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.