Low Water Biomass-Derived Pyrolysis Oils and Processes for Producing the Same

Abstract

Low water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oils and processes for producing them are provided. The process ( 200 ) includes condensing ( 204 ) pyrolysis gases including condensable pyrolysis gases and non-condensable gases to separate the condensable pyrolysis gases from the non-condensable gases, the non-condensable gases having a water content, drying ( 206 ) the non-condensable pyrolysis gases to reduce the water content of the-non-condensable gases to form reduced-water non-condensable pyrolysis gases, and providing ( 208 ) the reduced-water non-condensable pyrolysis gases to a pyrolysis reactor for forming the biomass-derived pyrolysis oil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process ( 200 ) for reducing water in a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil comprising the steps of:
 condensing ( 204 ) pyrolysis gases comprising condensable pyrolysis gases and non-condensable gases to separate the condensable pyrolysis gases from the non-condensable gases, the non-condensable gases having a water content;   drying ( 206 ) the non-condensable pyrolysis gases to reduce the water content of the-non-condensable gases to form reduced-water non-condensable pyrolysis gases; and   providing ( 208 ) the reduced-water non-condensable pyrolysis gases to a pyrolysis reactor for forming the biomass-derived pyrolysis oil.   
     
     
         2 . The process ( 200 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 pyrolyzing ( 202 ) a biomass material in the pyrolysis reactor with the reduced-water non-condensable pyrolysis gases to form reduced-water pyrolysis gases; and   condensing ( 204 ) the reduced-water pyrolysis gases to form a low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil.   
     
     
         3 . The process ( 200 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the step of drying ( 206 ) comprises passing the non-condensable pyrolysis gases over a chiller. 
     
     
         4 . The process ( 200 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the step of drying ( 206 ) comprises passing the non-condensable pyrolysis gases through an adsorptive dryer. 
     
     
         5 . The process ( 200 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the step of passing the non-condensable pyrolysis gases through an adsorptive dryer comprises passing the non-condensable pyrolysis gases through a molecular sieve. 
     
     
         6 . The process ( 200 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the step of condensing ( 204 ) pyrolysis gases further comprises introducing the pyrolysis gases into a condenser and adjusting the condenser to a predetermined temperature to provide a threshold vapor pressure of water in the condenser to provide a predetermined maximum water content included in the low water biomass-derived pyrolysis oil. 
     
     
         7 . The process ( 200 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of heating the reduced-water non-condensable pyrolysis gases, between the steps of condensing and drying. 
     
     
         8 . The process ( 200 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of filtering the non-condensable pyrolysis gas to reduce a mist load of the non-condensable pyrolysis gas, between the steps of condensing and drying.