Upgrading fusel oil mixtures over heterogeneous catalysts to higher value renewable chemicals
AssigneeGevo, Inc.
InventorJonathan O. SMITH
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims79
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.
59-90. (canceled)
92-111. (canceled)
A process for converting one or more C2-C6 linear or branched alcohols contained in fusel oil to renewable chemicals, comprising contacting a feed stream with the C2-C6 linear or branched alcohols with a catalyst to produce at least one of a ketone, an olefin, a di-olefin, or an aldehyde.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.