US2011146140A1PendingUtilityA1

Low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil and processes for preparing the same

Assignee: BRANDVOLD TIMOTHY APriority: Dec 23, 2009Filed: Dec 23, 2009Published: Jun 23, 2011
Est. expiryDec 23, 2029(~3.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
C10L 1/02B01D 3/36
63
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

Low water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oils and processes for preparing them are provided. Water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is distilled in the presence of an azeotrope-forming liquid to form an azeotrope. The azeotrope is removed at or above the boiling point of the azeotrope and low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is obtained.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A process for reducing water in a water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil comprising the steps of:
 distilling the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil in the presence of an azeotrope-forming liquid to form an azeotrope; and   removing the azeotrope.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of distilling the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil comprises selecting the azeotrope-forming liquid from the group consisting of toluene, ethanol, acetone, 2-propanol, cyclohexane, 2-butanone, octane, benzene, and ethyl acetate. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the step of distilling the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil comprises forming the azeotrope selected from the group consisting of ethanol/water, toluene/water, acetone/water, 2-propanol/water, cyclohexane/water, 2-butanone/water, octane/water, ethanol/toluene/water, 1-butanol/octane/water, benzene/2-propanol/water, ethanol/2-butanone/water, and ethanol/ethyl acetate/water. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of distilling the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil comprises heating the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil to a minimum distillation temperature of the boiling point of the azeotrope at a given atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of distilling the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil comprises adding the azeotrope-forming liquid to the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil, a minimum amount of the azeotrope-forming liquid to be added (in kilograms) calculated according to the following calculations: 
       
         
           
             
               x 
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           weight 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           ratio 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           of 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           azeotrope 
                            
                           
                             - 
                           
                            
                           forming 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           liquid 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           to 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           water 
                         
                          
                         
                             
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         in 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         azeotrope 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         mass 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             in 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             kilograms 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         of 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         water 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         to 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         be 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         removed 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         from 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         biomass 
                          
                         
                           - 
                         
                          
                         derived 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         pyrolysis 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         oil 
                       
                     
                   
                 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         Minimum 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         amount 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         of 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         azeotrope 
                          
                         
                           - 
                         
                          
                         forming 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         liquid 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         to 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         be 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         added 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             in 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             kilograms 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         to 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         the 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         starting 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         oil 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       wherein the mass (in kg) of water to be removed=M f *([H 2 O] i −[H 2 O] f )/(1−[H 2 O] f ); and 
       wherein: 
       M f =mass of water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil (in kilograms); and [H 2 O] i  and [H 2 O] f =water concentration in grams of water per gram of oil of the initial (water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil) and final pyrolysis oil (low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil) respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the step of distilling the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil further comprises adding more of the azeotrope-forming liquid to the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil than the minimum amount. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of distilling the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil in the presence of an azeotrope-forming liquid comprises distilling the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil in the presence of a first azeotrope-forming liquid and a second azeotrope-forming liquid. 
     
     
         8 . A process for preparing low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil comprising the steps of:
 introducing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil and an azeotrope-forming liquid into a distillation apparatus maintained at a temperature sufficient to form an azeotrope, the temperature being at least the minimum boiling point of the azeotrope;   removing the azeotrope from the distillation apparatus at or above the boiling point of the azeotrope; and   removing low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil from the distillation apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the step of introducing the biomass-derived pyrolysis oil and the azeotrope-forming liquid comprises selecting the azeotrope-forming liquid from the group consisting of toluene, ethanol, acetone, 2-propanol, cyclohexane, 2-butanone, octane, benzene, and ethyl acetate. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the step of removing the azeotrope comprises removing the azeotrope selected from the group consisting of ethanol/water, toluene/water, acetone/water, 2-propanol/water, cyclohexane/water, 2-butanone/water, octane/water, ethanol/toluene/water, 1-butanol/octane/water, benzene/2-propanol/water, ethanol/2-butanone/water, and ethanol/ethyl acetate/water. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the step of introducing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil and the azeotrope-forming liquid comprises the step of adding the azeotrope-forming liquid to the biomass-derived pyrolysis oil, the distillation apparatus, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the step of adding the azeotrope-forming liquid comprises adding the azeotrope-forming liquid in at least an amount calculated according to the following calculations: 
       
         
           
             
               x 
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           weight 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           ratio 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           of 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           azeotrope 
                            
                           
                             - 
                           
                            
                           forming 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           liquid 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           to 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           water 
                         
                          
                         
                             
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         in 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         azeotrope 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         mass 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             in 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             kilograms 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         of 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         water 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         to 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         be 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         removed 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         from 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         biomass 
                          
                         
                           - 
                         
                          
                         derived 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         pyrolysis 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         oil 
                       
                     
                   
                 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         Minimum 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         amount 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         of 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         azeotrope 
                          
                         
                           - 
                         
                          
                         forming 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         liquid 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         to 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         be 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         added 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             in 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             kilograms 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         to 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         the 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         starting 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         oil 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       wherein the mass (in kg) of water to be removed=M f *([H 2 O] i −[H 2 O] f )/(1−[H 2 O] f ); and 
       wherein: 
       M f =mass of water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil (in kilograms); and [H 2 O] i  and [H 2 O] f =water concentration in grams of water per gram of oil of the initial (water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil) and final pyrolysis oil (low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil) respectively. 
     
     
         13 . A low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil produced by a process which comprises the steps of:
 distilling water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil in the presence of an azeotrope-forming liquid to form an azeotrope; and   removing the azeotrope and obtaining low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil, the low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil having a water content less than the water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil and containing residual azeotrope-forming liquid.   
     
     
         14 . The low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil of  claim 13 , wherein the azeotrope-forming liquid is selected from the group consisting of toluene, ethanol, acetone, 2-propanol, cyclohexane, 2-butanone, octane, benzene, and ethyl acetate. 
     
     
         15 . The low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil of  claim 14 , wherein the azeotrope is selected from the group consisting of ethanol/water, toluene/water, acetone/water, 2-propanol/water, cyclohexane/water, 2-butanone/water, octane/water, ethanol/toluene/water, 1-butanol/octane/water, benzene/2-propanol/water, ethanol/2-butanone/water, and ethanol/ethyl acetate/water. 
     
     
         16 . The low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil of  claim 13 , wherein the azeotrope-forming liquid is present in at least an amount calculated according to the following calculations: 
       
         
           
             
               x 
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           weight 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           ratio 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           of 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           azeotrope 
                            
                           
                             - 
                           
                            
                           forming 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           liquid 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           to 
                            
                           
                               
                           
                            
                           water 
                         
                          
                         
                             
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         in 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         azeotrope 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         mass 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             in 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             kilograms 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         of 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         water 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         to 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         be 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         removed 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         from 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         biomass 
                          
                         
                           - 
                         
                          
                         derived 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         pyrolysis 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         oil 
                       
                     
                   
                 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         Minimum 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         amount 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         of 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         azeotrope 
                          
                         
                           - 
                         
                          
                         forming 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         liquid 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         present 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             in 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             kilograms 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         in 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         the 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         starting 
                          
                         
                             
                         
                          
                         oil 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       wherein the mass (in kg) of water to be removed=M f *([H 2 O] i −[H 2 O] f )/(1−[H 2 O] f ); and 
       wherein: 
       M f =mass of water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil (in kilograms); and [H 2 O] i  and [H 2 O] f =water concentration in grams of water per gram of oil of the initial (water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil) and final pyrolysis oil (low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil) respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil of  claim 13 , wherein the azeotrope is removed at or above the boiling point of the azeotrope at a given atmospheric pressure.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2011146140A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.