Method of producing drop-in diesel

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for producing renewable diesel from hydrocarbon-containing feedstock using microwave energy and hydrotreatment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing a fuel, comprising:
 forming pellets comprising at least one hydrocarbon-containing feedstock and at least one catalyst;   depolymerizing said hydrocarbon-containing feedstock in the presence of said catalyst using high-frequency microwave energy at a temperature of about 275° C. and 350° C. to form a composition comprising:
 crude oil; 
 biochar; and 
 optionally, syngas comprising:
 H 2 ; 
 CO; and 
 optionally, CO 2 ; 
 
   reacting said crude oil with H 2  to remove impurities and to form an upgraded crude oil; and   distilling said upgrading crude oil to form a phenol fraction and a diesel fraction.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 blending said diesel fraction with at least one additive.   
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 blending said diesel fraction with at least one fossil fuel.   
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said depolymerizing step is carried out at a temperature of about 280° C.   
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said pellets have a density sufficient to permit said depolymerizing step and said hydrotreating step without substantially mechanically degrading said pellets.   
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 drying said hydrocarbon-containing feedstock prior to forming said pellets.   
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 combusting at least a portion of said syngas in said drying step.   
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recovering heat from said biochar to form a cooled biochar.   
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 storing said cooled biochar.   
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing said phenol fraction.   
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said phenol fraction comprises methoxyphenol.   
     
     
         12 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing said diesel fraction.   
     
     
         13 . A method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said catalyst is a zeolite.   
     
     
         14 . A method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said hydrocarbon-containing feedstock is selected from the group consisting of plant-based biomass, animal-based biomass, tires, municipal waste, industrial waste, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         15 . A method of  claim 14 ,
 wherein said plant-based biomass is selected from the group consisting of lignocellulosic biomass or a component part thereof, algae, and combinations thereof.