Battelle Memorial Institute

Other

Archer Daniels Midland Company

Genifuel Corporation

Michigan State University

Alan H Zacher

Todd A Werpy

John G Frye

James F White

Johnathan E Holladay

Yong Wang

Dennis J Miller

Michel J Gray

Gary G Neuenschwander

Andrew J Schmidt

Rick J Orth

Danielle S Muzatko

Douglas Charles Elliott

Michael A Lilga

Charles Abbas

Thomas Peterson

Todd R Hart

James J Strohm

Kyle E Beery

James A Franz

Anne M Rammelsberg

Mikhail S Alnajjar

Vanessa Lebarbier

Eric V Alderson

Catherine J Kim

James E Jackson

Richard T Hallen

James R Oyler

Shubham P Chopade

Robert Scott Butner

Craig A Myler

Martin E Toomajian

Monte R Elmore

Aaron A Oberg

Evan O Jones

John G Frey, Jr

Leslie J Rotness, Jr

A system and process are described for clean separation of biocrudes and water by-products from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) product mixtures of organic and biomass-containing feedstocks at elevated temperatures and pressures. Inorganic compound solids are removed prior to separation of biocrude and water by-product fractions to minimize formation of emulsions that impede separation. Separation may be performed at higher temperatures that reduce heat loss and need to cool product mixtures to ambient. The present invention thus achieves separation efficiencies not achieved in conventional HTL processing.

System and process for efficient separation of biocrudes and water in a hydrothermal liquefaction system

Hydrogenolysis systems are provided that can include a reactor housing an Ru-comprising hydrogenolysis catalyst and wherein the contents of the reactor is maintained at a neutral or acidic pH. Reactant reservoirs within the system can include a polyhydric alcohol compound and a base, wherein a weight ratio of the base to the compound is less than 0.05. Systems also include the product reservoir comprising a hydrogenolyzed polyhydric alcohol compound and salts of organic acids, and wherein the moles of base are substantially equivalent to the moles of salts or organic acids. Processes are provided that can include an Ru-comprising catalyst within a mixture having a neutral or acidic pH. A weight ratio of the base to the compound can be between 0.01 and 0.05 during exposing.

Chemical production processes and systems

Processes and systems for converting glycerol to propylene glycol are disclosed. The glycerol feed is diluted with propylene glycol as the primary solvent, rather than water which is typically used. The diluted glycerol feed is sent to a reactor where the glycerol is converted to propylene glycol (as well as other byproducts) in the presence of a catalyst. The propylene glycol-containing product from the reactor is recycled as a solvent for the glycerol feed.

Processes and systems for the production of propylene glycol from glycerol

The present disclosure relates to facilities, systems, methods and/or catalysts for use in chemical production. In particular, the disclosure provides innovations relating to dehydration of multihydric compounds such as glycerol to form acrolein. Some of these innovations include continuous reaction systems as well as system parameters that allow for long term production.

Multihydric compound dehydration systems, catalyst compositions, and methods

The invention includes methods of processing an initial di-carbonyl compound by conversion to a cyclic compound. The cyclic compound is reacted with an alkylating agent to form a derivative having an alkylated ring nitrogen. The invention encompasses a method of producing an N-alkyl product. Ammonia content of a solution is adjusted to produce a ratio of ammonia to di-carboxylate compound of from about 1:1 to about 1.5:1. An alkylating agent is added and the initial compound is alkylated and cyclized. The invention includes methods of making N-methyl pyrrolidinone (NMP). Aqueous ammonia and succinate is introduced into a vessel and ammonia is adjusted to provide a ratio of ammonia to succinate of less than 2:1. A methylating agent is reacted with succinate at a temperature of from greater than 100&#xb0; C. to about 400&#xb0; C. to produce N-methyl succinimide which is purified and hydrogenated to form NMP.

Process for producing cyclic compounds

Continuous processing of wet biomass feedstock by catalytic hydrothermal gasification must address catalyst fouling and poisoning. One solution can involve heating the wet biomass with a heating unit to a temperature sufficient for organic constituents in the feedstock to decompose, for precipitates of inorganic wastes to form, for preheating the wet feedstock in preparation for subsequent separation of sulfur contaminants, or combinations thereof. Treatment further includes separating the precipitates out of the wet feedstock, removing sulfur contaminants, or both using a solids separation unit and a sulfur separation unit, respectively. Having removed much of the inorganic wastes and the sulfur that can cause poisoning and fouling, the wet biomass feedstock can be exposed to the heterogeneous catalyst for gasification.

Methods and apparatus for catalytic hydrothermal gasification of biomass

A method of reducing hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) where a starting material containing HMF in a solvent comprising water is provided. His provided into the reactor and the starting material is contacted with a catalyst containing at least one metal selected from Ni, Co, Cu, Pd, Pt, Ru, Ir, Re and Rh, at a temperature of less than or equal to 250&#xb0; C. A method of hydrogenating HMF includes providing an aqueous solution containing HMF and fructose. Hand a hydrogenation catalyst are provided. The HMF is selectively hydrogenated relative to the fructose at a temperature at or above 30&#xb0; C. A method of producing tetrahydrofuran dimethanol (THFDM) includes providing a continuous flow reactor having first and second catalysts and providing a feed comprising HMF into the reactor. The feed is contacted with the first catalyst to produce furan dimethanol (FDM) which is contacted with the second catalyst to produce THFDM.

Hydroxymethylfurfural reduction methods and methods of producing furandimethanol

The invention includes methods of processing an initial di-carbonyl compound by conversion to a cyclic compound. The cyclic compound is reacted with an alkylating agent to form a derivative having an alkylated ring nitrogen. The invention encompasses a method of producing an N-alkyl product. Ammonia content of a solution is adjusted to produce a ratio of ammonia to di-carboxylate compound of from about 1:1 to about 1.5:1. An alkylating agent is added and the initial compound is alkylated and cyclized. The invention includes methods of making N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP). Aqueous ammonia and succinate is introduced into a vessel and ammonia is adjusted to provide a ratio of ammonia to succinate of less than 2:1. A methylating agent is reacted with succinate at a temperature of from greater than 100&#xb0; C. to about 400&#xb0; C. to produce N-methyl succinimide which is purified and hydrogenated to form NMP.

Chemical production processes are provided that can include exposing a reactant composition to a catalyst composition to form a product composition. Catalyst compositions are also provided that can include metal phosphate compositions, metal phosphorous compositions, and/or solid support compositions with the solid support compositions including one or more of F&#x2014;AlO, ZrO&#x2014;CO, SiO&#x2014;AlO&#x2014;CO, SiOAlO, Alundum, and Silica such as Ludox AS-30.

Chemical production processes, systems, and catalyst compositions

Chemical production processes are provided that can include exposing a reactant composition to a catalyst composition to form a product composition. The reactant composition can include a multihydric alcohol compound and the product composition can include a carbonyl compound. The catalyst composition can include a metal effective to facilitate catalyst activation. Processes disclosed also include supplementing a dehydration catalyst with a promoter, and activating the supplemented catalyst in the presence of oxygen. Processes also include providing a supplemented dehydration catalyst to within a reactor, and exposing a multihydric alcohol compound to the dehydration catalyst, with the exposing forming coke within the reactor. Oxygen can be provided to the reactor to remove at least a portion of the coke.

A textured catalyst having a hydrothermally-stable support, a metal oxide and a catalyst component is described. Methods of conducting aqueous phase reactions that are catalyzed by a textured catalyst are also described. The invention also provides methods of making textured catalysts and methods of making chemical products using a textured catalyst.

Methods of making textured catalysts

A process is disclosed for conversion of salts of &#x3b2;-hydroxy carbonyl compounds forming useful conversion products including, e.g., &#x3b1;,&#x3b2;-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and/or salts of &#x3b1;,&#x3b2;-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Conversion products find use, e.g., as feedstock and/or end-use chemicals.

Method for conversion of &#x3b2;-hydroxy carbonyl compounds

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Kennewick, WA, United States of America

Alan H Zacher