Biomass conversion process

A process for the conversion of solid biomass to hydrocarbons comprising:

• a) contacting said solid biomass with a first catalyst stream comprising a catalyst in a first reaction zone operated at a temperature T1 in the range of from about 250 to about 400° C., wherein said solid biomass is mixed with said first catalyst stream to form a first biomass-catalyst mixture, and wherein a portion of said solid biomass in said first biomass-catalyst mixture is converted forming a first gaseous product stream comprising hydrocarbons and a second biomass-catalyst mixture comprising said first catalyst stream and unconverted biomass;
• b) downwardly passing said second biomass-catalyst mixture to a second reaction zone;
• c) charging a second catalyst stream to said second reaction zone for contact with said second biomass-catalyst mixture, wherein said second reaction zone is operated at a temperature T2, and wherein at least a portion of said unconverted biomass in said second biomass-catalyst mixture is converted forming a second gaseous product stream comprising hydrocarbons and a spent catalyst comprising coke;
• d) charging said spent catalyst to a regenerator wherein coke is burned off from said spent catalyst in the presence of oxygen thereby forming a regenerated catalyst;
• e) charging a portion of said regenerated catalyst to said first reaction zone as said first catalyst stream, and charging a portion of said regenerated catalyst to said second reaction zone as said second catalyst stream;
• f) upwardly passing said second gaseous product stream to said first reaction zone;
• and
• g) removing both said first gaseous product stream and said second gaseous product stream from said first reaction zone as a product mixture comprising hydrocarbons.