Methods and apparatus for selectively producing ethanol from synthesis gas
AssigneeRange Fuels, Inc.
InventorsRonald C. Stites, Jerrod Hohman
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Abstract
The invention provides methods and apparatus for selectively producing ethanol from syngas. As disclosed herein, syngas derived from cellulosic biomass (or other sources) can be catalytically converted into methanol, which in turn can be catalytically converted into acetic acid or acetates. Finally, the acetic acid or acetates can be reduced to ethanol according to several variations. In some embodiments, yields of ethanol from biomass can exceed 100 gallons per dry ton of biomass.
Claims30
A method for producing ethanol from biomass, said method comprising:
- (i) converting said biomass into a first stream comprising syngas;
- (ii) catalytically converting at least some of said syngas into a second stream comprising methanol;
- (iii) separating some of said syngas into hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
- (iv) catalytically converting at least some of said methanol with some of said carbon monoxide into a third stream comprising acetic acid;
- and
- (v) reducing at least some of said acetic acid with some of said hydrogen into a fourth stream comprising ethanol.
A method for producing ethanol from biomass, said method comprising:
- (i) converting said biomass into a first stream comprising syngas;
- (ii) catalytically converting at least some of said syngas into a second stream comprising methanol;
- (iii) catalytically converting at least some of said methanol with CO into a third stream comprising acetic acid, wherein H2 is further introduced, thereby generating acetaldehyde;
- and
- (iv) reducing at least some of said acetic acid and said acetaldehyde with H2 into a fourth stream comprising ethanol.
A method for producing ethanol from biomass, said method comprising:
- (i) converting said biomass into a first stream comprising syngas;
- (ii) catalytically converting at least some of said syngas into a second stream comprising methanol;
- (iii) catalytically converting at least some of said methanol with CO into a third stream comprising acetic acid;
- (iv) esterifying said acetic acid with ethanol to generate ethyl acetate;
- (v) reducing at least some of said ethyl acetate with H2 into a fourth stream comprising ethanol, wherein said reducing is catalyzed by a Mo/Co/S catalyst;
- and
- (vi) optionally recycling said ethanol produced in step (v) back to step (iv).
A method for producing ethanol from biomass, said method comprising:
- (i) converting said biomass into a first stream comprising syngas;
- (ii) catalytically converting at least some of said syngas into a second stream comprising methanol;
- (iii) catalytically converting at least some of said methanol with CO into a third stream comprising acetic acid;
- (iv) esterifying said acetic acid with a C3 or higher alcohol to generate an acetate;
- (v) reducing at least some of said acetate with H2 into a fourth stream comprising ethanol;
- (vi) separating said fourth stream into an ethanol stream and a recovered-alcohol stream, wherein said recovered alcohol stream comprises said C3 or higher alcohol;
- and
- (vii) recycling said recovered-alcohol stream from step (vi) back to step (iv).
A method for producing ethanol from syngas, said method comprising:
- (i) in a first reactor, catalytically converting at least some of said syngas into methanol;
- (ii) in a second reactor, catalytically converting at least some of said methanol into acetic acid;
- (iii) feeding a portion of said acetic acid into said first reactor, under conditions effective for esterification of acetic acid with said methanol, thereby generating an acetate;
- and
- (iv) reducing at least some of said acetate with H2 to generate ethanol.
A method for producing ethanol from biomass, said method comprising:
- (i) converting said biomass into a first stream comprising syngas;
- (ii) catalytically converting at least some of said syngas into a second stream comprising methanol;
- (iii) catalytically converting at least some of said methanol with CO into a third stream comprising acetic acid;
- (iv) esterifying said acetic acid with methanol to generate methyl acetate;
- (v) reducing at least some of said methyl acetate with H2 into a fourth stream comprising methanol and ethanol, wherein said reducing is catalyzed by a Mo/Co/S catalyst;
- and
- (vi) optionally recycling a portion of said methanol produced in step (v) back to step (iv).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.