Title: Methods and systems for biological coal-to-biofuels and bioproducts

Abstract

Methods and systems for the biological conversion of pretreated or solubilized coal or waste coal into biofuels. Coal (10) may be pretreated perhaps in a pretreatment reactor (13). Pretreated coal or even solubilized coal may be introduced into a processing reactor such as a bioreactor (16) containing a plurality of microorganisms (9) such as oleaginous microorganisms which can convert at least some of the pretreated or solubilized coal into lipids (19) or biomass (18), which then may be used directly or as a precursor for various products such as biofuels, feedstock, or the like.

Inventors:

Wawrousek, Karen E.; Richards, Patrick; Bland, Alan E.

Issue Date:

2020-02-11

Research Org.:

Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1632541

Patent Number(s):

10557155

Application Number:

14/776,272

Assignee:

The University of Wyoming Research Corporation (Laramie, WY)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12P - FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10L - FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

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C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12P - FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {

C12P7/20 - Glycerol

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10L - FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

C10L2200/0476 - Biodiesel, i.e. defined lower alkyl esters of fatty acids first generation biodiesel

C - CHEMISTRY C07 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY C07C - ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS

C07C67/03 - by reacting an ester group with a hydroxy group

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10L - FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

C10L2290/26 - Composting, fermenting or anaerobic digestion fuel components or materials from which fuels are prepared

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E50/10 - Biofuels

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12P - FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {

C12P2201/00 - Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10L - FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

C10L2290/44 - Deacidification step, e.g. in coal enhancing

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

Y02P20/10 - General improvement of production processes causing greenhouse gases [GHG] emissions

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10L - FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

C10L2270/026 - for diesel engines, e.g. automobiles, stationary, marine

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12P - FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {

C12P7/649 - {Biodiesel, i.e. Fatty acid alkyl esters}

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10G - CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS

C10G1/002 - {in combination with oil conversion- or refining processes}

C - CHEMISTRY C07 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY C07C - ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS

C07C69/24 - esterified with monohydroxylic compounds

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10L - FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

C10L1/026 - {for compression ignition}

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DOE Contract Number:  

FC26-08NT43293

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 03/14/2014

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English