Process for producing high-carbon biogenic reagents

A process for producing methanol, the process comprising:

• providing a carbon-containing feedstock comprising biomass;
• pyrolyzing, in a pyrolysis zone, the feedstock, wherein the pyrolyzing occurs in the presence of a first substantially inert gas, thereby generating hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases;
• separating the condensable vapors and the non-condensable gases from the hot pyrolyzed solids;
• cooling, in a cooling zone, the hot pyrolyzed solids, wherein the cooling occurs in the presence of a second substantially inert gas, and wherein the cooling occurs with a cooling-zone temperature less than the pyrolysis temperature, thereby generating warm pyrolyzed solids;
• cooling, in a cooler that is separate from the cooling zone, the warm pyrolyzed solids, thereby generating cool pyrolyzed solids;
• recovering a high-carbon biogenic reagent, wherein the high-carbon biogenic reagent comprises the cool pyrolyzed solids;
• forming a fine powder from the high-carbon biogenic reagent;
• gasifying the high-carbon biogenic reagent, thereby generating syngas;
• and
• converting the syngas to methanol;
• wherein the second substantially inert gas is the same or is different from the first substantially inert gas.

The process of claim 1, further comprising introducing an additive to:

• the process prior to the forming;
• to the high-carbon biogenic reagent during the forming;
• or
• to the high-carbon biogenic reagent after the forming.

A process for producing methanol, the process comprising:

• providing a carbon-containing feedstock comprising biomass;
• pyrolyzing, in a pyrolysis zone, the feedstock in the presence of a first substantially inert gas for at least about 10 minutes and with a pyrolysis temperature selected from about 330° C. to about 700° C., thereby generating hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, and wherein conditions for the pyrolyzing maintain the structural integrity or mechanical strength of the high-carbon biogenic reagent relative to the feedstock;
• separating the condensable vapors and the non-condensable gases from the hot pyrolyzed solids;
• cooling, in a cooling zone, the hot pyrolyzed solids, in the presence of a second substantially inert gas for at least about 5 minutes and with a cooling-zone temperature less than the pyrolysis temperature, thereby generating warm pyrolyzed solids;
• cooling, in a cooler, the warm pyrolyzed solids, thereby generating cool pyrolyzed solids, wherein the cooler is distinct from the cooling zone or the same as the cooling zone;
• recovering a high-carbon biogenic reagent, wherein the high-carbon biogenic reagent comprises the cool pyrolyzed solids;
• gasifying the high-carbon biogenic reagent, thereby generating syngas;
• and
• converting the syngas to methanol;
• wherein the second substantially inert gas is the same or is different from the first substantially inert gas.

A process for producing methanol, the process comprising:

• providing a carbon-containing feedstock comprising biomass;
• pyrolyzing, in a pyrolysis reactor, the feedstock in the presence of a substantially inert gas, thereby generating hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases;
• separating the condensable vapors and the non-condensable gases from the hot pyrolyzed solids;
• recovering a high-carbon biogenic reagent, wherein the high-carbon biogenic reagent comprises the hot pyrolyzed solids;
• gasifying the high-carbon biogenic reagent, thereby generating syngas;
• and
• converting the syngas to methanol.