Back to results
US 8,710,107 B2Granted
System and method for converting biomass to ethanol via syngas
AssigneeWoodland Biofuels Inc.
InventorsLarry Jack Melnichuk, Karen Venita Kelly, Robert S. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for synthesizing ethanol using synthetic routes via synthesis gas are disclosed. A method and apparatus for gasifying biomass, such as biomass, in a steam gasifier that employs a fluidized bed and heating using hot flue gases from the combustion of synthesis gas is described. Methods and apparatus for converting synthesis gas into ethanol are also disclosed, using stepwise catalytic reactions to convert the carbon monoxide and hydrogen into ethanol using catalysts including iridium acetate.
Claims32
A method of producing ethanol from methanol comprising:
- providing methanol;
- producing a first mixture comprising methyl acetate, hydrogen, methanol, acetic acid, and water, by reacting the methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a promoter and a metal catalyst comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of iridium, rhodium, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, palladium, osmium, and platinum;
- removing hydrogen from the first mixture to produce a second mixture comprising methyl acetate, methanol, acetic acid, water, and the promoter;
- separating the second mixture to produce a third mixture comprising methyl acetate and methanol and a fraction selected from the group consisting of a promoter fraction, an acetic acid fraction, and a water fraction;
- producing a fourth mixture comprising ethanol by reacting the third mixture with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.