Low energy process to produce a hydrophobic oil from biomass pyrolysis liquids

Abstract

Described is a novel process for fractionating biomass pyrolysis oil quantitatively into energy dense hydrophobic aromatic fraction and water-soluble organics in an economical and energy efficient manner. Using the concepts of solvents and anti-solvent behaviors to separate the pyrolysis oil, which is an emulsion, a method utilizing minimal quantities of solvents and water is proposed, by comparison with the existing methods to isolate the hydrophobic aromatic fraction, there is a volume reduction of greater than 50:1. Additionally, there is a significant time saving over the 24 hours for the accepted method as a solvent, and the anti-solvent system is spontaneous.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A process comprising:
 fractionating pyrolysis oil to yield:
 an organic phase comprising hydrophobic aromatics, and 
 an aqueous phase comprising water soluble organics; and 
   extracting the aqueous phase with an organic solvent to yield:
 a fraction that is soluble in the organic solvent, and 
 a fraction that is insoluble in the organic solvent. 
   
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 19 , wherein the extracting comprises:
 combining the aqueous phase and the organic solvent to yield a mixture;   agitating the mixture; and   allowing the mixture to settle.   
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 19 , further comprising distilling the fraction that is soluble in the organic solvent to remove the organic solvent, thereby yielding a product. 
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 21 , wherein the product comprises phenolic monomers. 
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 extracting the fraction that is insoluble in the organic solvent with an additional organic solvent to yield:
 a fraction that is soluble in the additional organic solvent, and 
 a fraction that is insoluble in the additional organic solvent. 
   
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 23 , further comprising distilling the fraction that is insoluble in the additional organic solvent to remove water, thereby yielding a product. 
     
     
         25 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the product comprises pyrolytic sugars. 
     
     
         26 . The process according to  claim 23 , further comprising removing the additional organic solvent from the fraction that is soluble in the additional organic solvent. 
     
     
         27 . The process according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 combining the fraction that is soluble in the organic solvent and the fraction that is soluble in the additional organic solvent to yield a mixture.   
     
     
         28 . The process according to  claim 27 , further comprising distilling the mixture to remove the organic solvent and the additional organic solvent, thereby yielding a product. 
     
     
         29 . The process according to  claim 28 , wherein the product comprises phenolics. 
     
     
         30 . The process according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 combining the fraction that is soluble in the organic solvent, the fraction that is soluble in the additional organic solvent, and the organic phase to yield a mixture.   
     
     
         31 . The process according to  claim 30 , further comprising distilling the mixture to remove the organic solvent, the additional organic solvent, and water thereby yielding a product. 
     
     
         32 . The process according to  claim 31 , wherein the product comprises the hydrophobic aromatics. 
     
     
         33 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein extracting the fraction that is insoluble in the organic solvent with the additional organic solvent comprises:
 combining the fraction that is insoluble in the organic solvent and the additional organic solvent to yield a mixture; and   allowing the mixture to settle.   
     
     
         34 . The process according to  claim 19 , wherein the organic solvent is diethyl ether. 
     
     
         35 . The process according to  claim 34 , wherein the additional organic solvent is dichloromethane. 
     
     
         36 . The process according to  claim 19 , wherein the organic solvent is butyl acetate. 
     
     
         37 . The process according to  claim 36 , wherein the additional organic solvent is butyl acetate. 
     
     
         38 . A process comprising:
 fractionating pyrolysis oil to yield:
 an organic phase comprising hydrophobic aromatics, and 
 an aqueous phase comprising water soluble organics; 
   extracting the aqueous phase with diethyl ether to yield:
 a diethyl ether-soluble fraction, and 
 a diethyl ether-insoluble fraction; 
   extracting the diethyl ether-insoluble fraction with dichloromethane to yield:
 a dichloromethane-soluble fraction, and 
 a dichloromethane-insoluble fraction; 
   distilling the dichloromethane-insoluble fraction to remove water, thereby yielding pyrolytic sugars;   distilling the diethyl ether-soluble fraction and the dichloromethane-soluble fraction to remove the diethyl ether and the dichloromethane, thereby yielding phenolic monomers.   
     
     
         39 . A process comprising:
 fractionating pyrolysis oil to yield:
 an organic phase comprising hydrophobic aromatics, and 
 an aqueous phase comprising water soluble organics; 
   extracting the aqueous phase with butyl acetate to yield:
 a first butyl acetate-soluble fraction, and 
 a first butyl acetate-insoluble fraction; 
   extracting the first butyl acetate-insoluble fraction with additional butyl acetate to yield:
 a second butyl acetate-soluble fraction, and 
 a second butyl acetate-insoluble fraction; 
   distilling the second butyl acetate-soluble fraction to remove water, thereby yielding pyrolytic sugars;   combining the first butyl acetate-soluble fraction and the second butyl acetate-soluble fraction with the organic phase to yield a mixture; and   distilling the mixture to remove the butyl acetate and water, thereby yielding the hydrophobic aromatics.