Conversion of biological material to liquid fuels
AssigneeMobil Oil Corporation
InventorsWerner O. Haag, Paul G. Rodewald, Paul B. Weisz
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Abstract
Living plants and animals synthesize and often accumulate a wide variety of organic materials having a molecular weight greater than 150. These include different chemical types such as natural hydrocarbons including rubbery substances, natural resins, and natural glycerides such as oils and fats. These substances, formed in the anabolic process, are collectively called "anabolites". This invention provides a process for catalytically converting certain anabolites to liquid hydrocarbons useful for the manufacture of fuels such as gasoline and chemicals such as para-xylene. Crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites having an effective pore size of greater than about 5 Angstrom units are useful catalysts.
Claims17
A process for manufacturing liquid hydrocarbons, said process comprising:
- segregating from a plant or an animal an organic material or a mixture thereof characterized by an effective hydrogen to carbon ratio of about 1/1.0 to 2.2/1.0 and a molecular weight greater than 150, contacting said organic material or mixture at a temperature of 300.degree. to about 650.degree. C. at a pressure of 1 to 50 atmospheres, and at 0.2 to 20 WHSV, with a catalyst consisting essentially of a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having an effective pore diameter greater than about 5 Angstrom units, and recovering a liquid hydrocarbon mixture at least 40% of which distills below about 170.degree. C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.