# US 9,040,761 B2 · Co-processing of biomass and synthetic polymer based materials in a pyrolysis conversion process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,040,761 B2 - Document ID: US9040761B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/578,790 - Filed: 2011-02-11 - Published: 2013-08-08 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-16 - Assignees: KiOR, Inc. - Applicants: Robert Bartek; Steve Yanik - Inventors: Robert Bartek; Steve Yanik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040761B2 ## CPC - C10G 1/06: by destructive hydrogenation - 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 1/08: with moving catalysts - C10G 1/10: from rubber or rubber waste - C10G 3/42: {Catalytic treatment} - C10G 2300/1011: Biomass - Y02P 30/20: using bio-feedstock - 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 - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Disclosed is a process for biomass conversion which includes co-processing the biomass with thermoplastic and non-thermoplastic polymer based materials in a catalytic pyrolysis reactor to convert such to liquid hydrocarbons; wherein hydrogen atoms originating with the polymer materials can remove oxygen from oxygenated hydrocarbons produced in the conversion of the biomass in the reactor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process, comprising: i) charging a feed to a first reactor for contact with a heat carrier material and conversion of the feed to a product comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons, wherein the feed comprises at least one of (a) a biomass, and (b) a biomass and a synthetic polymer; ii) charging at least a portion of said product to a second reactor along with a synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material for contact with a second reactor catalyst and conversion of said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material to liquid hydrocarbons; and iii) removing a second reactor bio-oil from said second reactor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein hydrogen atoms originating from said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material remove oxygen from said oxygenated hydrocarbons contained in said product; and wherein said second reactor bio-oil has a lower concentration of oxygenated hydrocarbons than the concentration of oxygenated hydrocarbons of the combination of said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material and said product charged to said second reactor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said product from step i) is separated into (1) a heavy hydrocarbon stream comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons and (2) a first reactor bio-oil; and wherein said heavy hydrocarbon stream is charged to said second reactor in step ii) as at least a portion of said product charged to said second reactor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said first reactor and said second reactor are each separately either a fluid bed reactor, a moving bed reactor, or a cyclone reactor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said first reactor is operated at a temperature of from about 150 to about 600° C. and in an oxygen-poor atmosphere. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said first reactor is operated at a temperature of from about 250 to about 550° C. and in an oxygen-poor atmosphere. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said second reactor is operated at a temperature of from about 470 to about 600° C. and in an oxygen-poor atmosphere. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said second reactor is operated at a temperature of from about 520 to about 570° C. and in an oxygen-poor atmosphere. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein, prior to charging to said second reactor, said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material is shredded and mixed with a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of: i) a portion of said second reactor bio-oil, ii) a petroleum fraction, and iii) a combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said biomass is subjected to pretreatment prior to charging to said first reactor; wherein said pretreatment comprises a method selected from the group consisting of: a) drying; b) heat treatment in an oxygen-poor or oxygen-free atmosphere; c) solvent explosion; d) mechanical treatment with catalyst particles; e) demineralization; f) swelling in an aqueous solvent; g) impregnation of catalytic agents, mineral acids, organic acids, or mineral bases, and h) combinations thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said heat carrier material is a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a solid base, a clay, an inorganic oxide, an inorganic hydroxide, a zeolite, a supported metal, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said second reactor catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a solid base, a clay, an inorganic oxide, an inorganic hydroxide, a zeolite, a supported metal, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said heat carrier material is sand. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said synthetic polymer based material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, poly (methyl methacrylate), terephthalates, polycarbonates, polyvinylacetates, polystyrene, poly (styrene-butadiene-styrene), styrene-butadiene rubber, nylons, polyethylene, polyurethane prepolymer, polystyrene, polypropylene, acrylic resins, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said feed further comprises materials selected from the group consisting of paper, cotton, and combinations thereof.