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US 2014/0109464 A1Published application
Lignocellulosic biomass conversion
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsJoseph Broun POWELL, John Anthony Smegal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A partially digested biomass solids is converted in a fixed bed catalytic reduction reactor under hydrothermal catalytic condition with a supported metal catalyst having a high void fraction. The catalyst having high void fraction allows high permeability and extends reaction run time.
Claims22
A lignocellulosic biomass conversion method comprising:
- (a) providing a solid biomass feedstock containing cellulose, lignin and water in a hydrothermal digestion unit;
- (b) heating the solid biomass feedstock in the hydrothermal digestion unit in the presence of a liquor to digest at least a portion of the solid biomass feedstock, thereby forming a hydrolysate comprising partially digested solids and soluble carbohydrates within a liquor phase;
- (c) contacting at least a portion of the hydrolysate, in one or more first fixed bed catalytic reduction reactor units, with molecular hydrogen at a temperature in the range of 180 degrees C. to less than 300 degrees C. in the presence of a supported metal catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen having an average void fraction of at least 40% and a surface area in the range of 10 m2/g to 1000 m2/g, thereby at least partially transforming the hydrolysate into a reaction product comprising one or more alcohols in the liquor phase in the one or more first fixed bed catalytic reduction reactor units;
- (d) recirculating at least a portion of the liquor phase and at least a portion of the partially digested solids from the one or more first fixed bed catalytic reduction reactor units to the hydrothermal digestion unit;
- and
- (e) transferring at least a portion of the reaction product to a second catalytic reduction reactor unit so as to further transform the soluble carbohydrates into a reaction product.
3 more elements
A lignocellulosic biomass conversion system comprising:
- a hydrothermal digestion unit;
- a first catalytic reduction reactor unit fluidly coupled to the hydrothermal digestion unit along its height by two or more fluid inlet lines and two or more fluid return lines, the first catalytic reduction reactor unit containing a supported metal catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen having a void fraction of at least 45% and a surface area in the range of 10 m2/g to 1000 m2/g;
- and
- a fluid circulation loop comprising the hydrothermal digestion unit and a second catalytic reduction reactor unit that contains a catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen.
1 more element
A composition comprising:
- (i) lignocellulosic biomass;
- (ii) a supported metal catalyst having a avoid fraction in the range of from 45% to 95% and a surface area in the range of 10 m2/g to 1000 m2/g containing (a) Mo or W, and (b) Co, Ni or mixture thereof;
- (iii) water;
- and
- (iv) a liquor phase.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.