# US 8,465,557 B2 · Process for making bio-oils and fresh water from aquatic biomass > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,557 B2 - Document ID: US8465557B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/746,140 - Filed: 2008-12-02 - Published: 2010-11-25 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-03 - Assignees: KiOR, Inc. - Applicants: Paul O'Connor - Inventors: Paul O'Connor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465557B2 ## CPC - C10G 1/047: {Hot water or cold water extraction processes} - C10G 1/00: Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal (mechanical winning of oil from oil-shales, oil-sand, or the like B03B) - C10G 1/086: {Characterised by the catalyst used} - C10L 9/086: {Hydrothermal carbonization} - Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel - C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES - C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A reactive distillation process is disclosed for converting aquatic biomass to a bio-oil. In the process a slurry of aquatic biomass is contacted with a particulate inorganic material. The mixture is heated to or above its boiling point. During the heating step biomass is converted to bio-oil. In a preferred embodiment water vapors emanating from the slurry are collected and condensed. The fresh water obtained may be used for irrigation, in human domestic uses, and for human consumption. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reactive distillation process for the conversion of aquatic biomass to a bio-oil, said process comprising the steps of: a) providing a slurry comprising aquatic biomass and water; b) contacting the biomass with a particulate inorganic material; c) subjecting the slurry to reactive distillation, wherein the reactive distillation includes heating the slurry up to or above its boiling point and subjecting the heated slurry to separation in a distillation column to thereby produce a first product stream comprising residual water and a second product stream comprising a bio-oil. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein step b) comprises exerting mechanical action on the biomass in the presence of the particulate inorganic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2 wherein the mechanical action comprises kneading, milling, crushing, extruding, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the inorganic particulate material has catalytic properties. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the inorganic particulate material comprises an alkaline material selected from Al, Mg, Ca, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the slurry of step c) further comprises a soluble alkaline material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6 wherein the soluble alkaline material comprises K or Na. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the soluble alkaline material is NaOH or Na2CO3. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the boiling temperature is less than 200° C. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the slurry of step a) comprises sea water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the residual water formed in step c) is in the form of water vapor, wherein at least a portion of the water vapor is collected and condensed to fresh water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein step c) further produces a third product stream comprising a light gas, wherein the second product stream further comprises a tar-like slurry, wherein said tar-like slurry comprises tar, unconverted aquatic biomass, inorganic particulate material, and salt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12 comprising the additional step of: d) separating the bio-oil from the tar-like slurry. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12 comprising the additional step of burning the tar-like slurry to produce heat and ash. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14 wherein at least part of the ash is added to the slurry of step c). ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the distillation column contains catalytic packing material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein step c) is carried out at sub-atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The process of claim 11 wherein heat dissipated by the condensing of the water vapor is used to pre-heat the slurry of step c). ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the slurry of step c) comprises at least about 10 weight percent of the water. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the slurry of step a) is subjected to a dewatering step prior to step b), wherein the dewatering step comprises passing the slurry through a screen. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the boiling temperature is less than 150° C.