# US 2018/0023007 A1 · Depolymerization process

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- Number: US 2018/0023007 A1
- Document ID: US20180023007A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/547,999
- Filed: 2016-02-09
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-10
- Assignees: Ciris Energy, Inc.
- Applicants: Ciris Energy, Inc.
- Inventors: Robert Bartek; Bahman Rejal
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023007A1

## CPC

- C10G 1/086: {Characterised by the catalyst used}
- C10G 27/10: in the presence of metal-containing organic complexes, e.g. chelates, or cationic ion-exchange resins
- C10G 32/00: Refining of hydrocarbon oils by electric or magnetic means, by irradiation, or by using microorganisms
- C12N 1/00: Microorganisms; Compositions thereof (medicinal preparations containing material from protozoa, bacteria or viruses A61K35/66, from algae A61K36/02, from fungi A61K36/06; preparing medicinal bacterial antigen or antibody compositions, e.g. bacterial vaccines, A61K39/00); Processes of propagating, maintaining or preserving microorganisms or compositions thereof; Processes of preparing or isolating a composition containing a microorganism; Culture media therefor
- C12P 3/00: Preparation of elements or inorganic compounds except carbon dioxide {(recovery of carbon dioxides as by-products C12F3/02)}
- C12P 5/023: {Methane}
- Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method for solubilizing a carbonaceous feedstock. The method includes steps of reacting a mixture of the carbonaceous feedstock with a metal oxide including a metal at a first, higher oxidation state to reduce the metal of the metal oxide to a second, lower oxidation state by releasing at least one oxygen atom from the metal oxide. The released oxygen from the metal oxide is used to oxidize the carbonaceous feedstock. At least a portion of the metal or metal oxide containing the metal at the second, lower oxidation state is then oxidized to the metal oxide containing the metal at the first, higher oxidation state for reuse in the reaction step.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for solubilizing a carbonaceous feedstock, comprising the steps of:
a. reacting a mixture of the carbonaceous feedstock with a metal oxide including a metal at a first, higher oxidation state to reduce the metal of the metal oxide to a second, lower oxidation state by releasing at least one oxygen atom to oxidize at least one component of the carbonaceous feedstock; and
b. oxidizing at least a portion of the metal or metal oxide containing the metal at the second, lower oxidation state to the first, higher oxidation state, and
c. recycling at least a portion of the metal oxide containing the metal at the first, higher oxidation state from step (b) back to step (a).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the metal oxide comprises a transition metal selected from the group consisting of lanthanides and actinides.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, where the metal oxide comprises a metal selected from Fe, Ti, Cu, Ni, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Mo, La, Ce, Zr, Sr, W, Rh, Ba, Pt, Pd, and Ag.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein in the reacting step the weight ratio of metal oxide to the carbonaceous feedstock is in a range of from about 0.1:100 to about 10:100, or from about 0.5:100 to about 5:100, or from about 1:100 to about 3:100.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the metal oxide is on an inert support.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the inert support comprises a material selected from carbon, activated carbon, pumice, alumina, silica, silica-alumina, magnesia, diatomaceous earth, bauxite, titania, zirconia, clay, magnesium silicate, silicon carbide, zeolites, ceramics, carborundum, quartz, thoria, chromite, rutile, illmenite zircon, bauxite and combinations thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of heating the inert support prior to step (a) to enable transfer of heat from the insert support to the mixture in step (a).

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the inert support is in a form selected from particles, extrudates, monoliths, fibers, mesh, and a net.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) is conducted in the presence of at least one oxidizing agent.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of air, oxygen-enriched air, oxygen, ozone, perchlorates, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, oxides, superoxides, permanganates, chlorates, peroxides, hypochlorites and nitrates.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one oxidizing agent comprises a cation selected from metal, hydrogen and ammonium ions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) is performed at a temperature in a range of from about 140° C. to about 270° C., or from about 200° C. to about 220° C.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) is performed at a pressure in a range of from about 200 psia to about 1000 psia, or from about 700 psia to about 900 psia.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture reacted in step (a) comprises at least one solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of mineral acids and mineral bases.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) is configured as multiple sequential steps.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein each of the multiple sequential steps is carried out with at least one difference in a reaction condition of temperature, pressure and duration, or a composition of an oxidizing agent.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) is performed for a duration of from about 1 minute to about 5 hours, or from about 1 minutes to about 2 hours, or from about 1 minute to about 1 hour, or from about 5 minutes to about 30 minutes.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of digesting the solubilized carbonaceous feedstock from step (a) with at least one microorganism.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the digesting step is a process selected from an aerobic process, an anaerobic process and a combination of an aerobic process and an anaerobic process.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the carbonaceous feedstock is selected from the group consisting of coal, lignite, tar sands, tars, crude oils, peat, pitch, resins, lignin, latex rubber, waxes, agricultural wastes, bark, wood, and algae cake.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) is performed in a reaction vessel selected from a bubble column reactor and a trickle bed reactor.