Torrefaction reduction of coke formation on catalysts used in esterification and cracking of biofuels from pyrolysed lignocellulosic feedstocks

Patent · Wed Nov 04 04:00:00 EST 2015

OSTI ID:1224889

Kastner, James R; Mani, Sudhagar; Hilten, Roger; Das, Keshav C

A bio-oil production process involving torrefaction pretreatment, catalytic esterification, pyrolysis, and secondary catalytic processing significantly reduces yields of reactor char, catalyst coke, and catalyst tar relative to the best-case conditions using non-torrefied feedstock. The reduction in coke as a result of torrefaction was 28.5% relative to the respective control for slow pyrolysis bio-oil upgrading. In fast pyrolysis bio-oil processing, the greatest reduction in coke was 34.9%. Torrefaction at 275.degree. C. reduced levels of acid products including acetic acid and formic acid in the bio-oil, which reduced catalyst coking and increased catalyst effectiveness and aromatic hydrocarbon yields in the upgraded oils. The process of bio-oil generation further comprises a catalytic esterification of acids and aldehydes to generate such as ethyl levulinate from lignified biomass feedstock.

• Research Organization: UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC., Athens, GA, (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG36-08GO88144
• Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
• Patent Number(s): 9,175,235
• Application Number: 14/080,153
• OSTI ID: 1224889
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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