Method for producing bio-fuel that integrates heat from carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions to drive biomass gasification reactions
AssigneesWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Virent, Inc.
InventorsRandy D. Cortright, James A. Dumesic
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low-temperature catalytic process for converting biomass (preferably glycerol recovered from the fabrication of bio-diesel) to synthesis gas (i.e., H2/CO gas mixture) in an endothermic gasification reaction is described. The synthesis gas is used in exothermic carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions, such as Fischer-Tropsch, methanol, or dimethylether syntheses. The heat from the exothermic carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction is integrated with the endothermic gasification reaction, thus providing an energy-efficient route for producing fuels and chemicals from renewable biomass resources.
Claims26
A method of fabricating C2 to C36 linear or branched hydrocarbons or oxygenated hydrocarbons comprising:
- (a) performing an endothermic gasification reaction with a reactant stream comprising compounds selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, monosaccharides, polyols, and combinations thereof, at a temperature less than or equal to about 625 K, to yield synthesis gas;
- (b) performing an exothermic Fischer-Tropsch reaction with the synthesis gas of step (a) at a temperature greater than or equal to the temperature of the gasification reaction performed in step (a), wherein the reaction produces C2 to C36 hydrocarbons or oxygenated hydrocarbons, and heat;
- and
- (c) integrating the heat generated from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction of step (b) with the endothermic gasification reaction of step (a).
A method of fabricating C2 to C36 linear or branched hydrocarbons or oxygenated hydrocarbons comprising:
- (a) performing an endothermic gasification reaction with a reactant stream comprising glycerol, at a temperature less than or equal to about 625 K, using a catalyst comprising a Group VIIIB metal, to yield synthesis gas;
- (b) performing an exothermic Fischer-Tropsch reaction with the synthesis gas of step (a) at a temperature greater than or equal to the temperature of the gasification reaction performed in step (a), wherein the reaction produces C2 to C36 hydrocarbons or oxygenated hydrocarbons, and heat;
- and
- (c) integrating the heat generated from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction of step (b) with the endothermic gasification reaction of step (a).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.