Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company

Exxonmobil Technology and Engineering Company

Lyondell Chemical Technology, L.p.

Arsam Behkish

Anjaneya Sarma Kovvali

Giovanni Pilloni

Michael F Raterman

Te Chang

Jude T Ruszkay

John H Speidel, Jr

Changyub Paek

Kelsey M McNeely

Jihad Mohammed Dakka

Frank Hershkowitz

Paul F Keusenkothen

Lei Zhang

Patrick Loring Hanks

Matthew Scott Ide

John Frances Brody

Thomas M Smith

Jaime A Valencia

Anastasios I Skoulidas

Brandon J O'Neill

Gary A Sawyer

Mark A Deimund

David W Maher

Majid Keyvani

Brandon M Carcuffe

Jianxin Jason Wu

Cynthia F Omilian

Joshua W Allen

Ralph C Dehaas

Surya Bhaskara Reddy Karri

Alice Lin

Adam C Madlinger

Patrick N Crowe

Surya Bhaskara Karri

Michael Francis Raterman

The present disclosure relates to processes for producing hydrocarbon fuels from lignocellulosic biomass. A process may include introducing biomass to a pretreatment system, and a first separation system forming a pentose-rich stream and a pentose-lean stream. The pentose-lean stream may be introduced to a hydrolysis system forming a hydrolysate and the hydrolysate introduced to a second separation system forming a hexose-rich stream and a lignin stream. Additionally, at least one of the pentose-rich stream or the hexose-rich stream may be introduced to a bioreactor containing microorganisms configured to produce hydrocarbon fuels. Additionally, the present disclosure also relates to systems for the production of hydrocarbon fuels. A system may include a pretreatment system, a first separation system, a hydrolysis system, a second separation system, and one or more bioreactors. Alternatively a system may include a pretreatment system, a hydrolysis system, a sugar separation system, and one or more bioreactors.

Feed control in conversion of biomass into hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals

The present disclosure relates to processes for producing hydrocarbon fuels from lignocellulosic biomass. A process may include introducing biomass to a pretreatment system forming a pretreatment effluent and introducing the pretreatment effluent to a hydrolysis system forming a hydrolysate. The hydrolysate may be introduced to a lignin separation system to form a sugar-rich stream and a lignin-rich stream. The sugar-rich stream may be introduced to a purification system comprising at least one toxin converting microorganism or subcellular material to form a purified sugar-rich stream, and the purified sugar-rich stream and one or more sugar converting microorganisms are introduced to a bioreactor configured to produce hydrocarbon fuels. Additionally, the present disclosure also related to systems for production of hydrocarbon fuels including, a pretreatment system, a hydrolysis system, a lignin separation system, a purification system, and at least one bioreactor.

Biological guard beds in conversion of biomass into hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for converting biomass comprising lignocellulosic material into biofuels and biochemicals that contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for the removal or reduction of impurities during lignocellulosic biomass processing to enhance biorefinery production of biofuels and biochemicals.

Lignocellulosic biomass treatment methods and systems for production of biofuels and biochemicals

Isobutanol may be converted into predominantly Colefin oligomers under specified conditions. Such methods may comprise: contacting a feed comprising isobutanol with a zeolite solid acid catalyst having a MWW framework under conditions effective to convert the isobutanol into a product comprising Colefin oligomers, wherein n is an integer having a value of two or greater and about 80 wt. % or greater of the Colefin oligomers are larger than C.

Oligomerization of isobutanol in the presence of MWW zeolite solid acid catalysts

Systems and methods are provided for conversion of oxygenate feeds to distillate boiling range products using multiple moving bed reactor stages. The systems and methods allow for multiple stages to be used while avoiding the need for distillation or other boiling point based separation as the mixture of feed and effluent is passed between stages. Instead, a stripping gas is used to disengage the feed and effluent from the catalyst solids. In combination with an improved moving bed reactor design, this can allow substantially all of the feed and effluent from a first moving bed reactor stage to be passed into a second moving bed reactor stage, even when the feed and effluent include both vapor and liquid phase portions.

Distillate production from oxygenates in moving bed reactors

Systems and methods are provided for oligomerization of olefins to distillate boiling range products while also recycling naphtha boiling range olefins as part of the feed. By performing the olefin oligomerization while also recycling naphtha boiling range olefins, it has been discovered that the resulting distillate boiling range products can have an unexpected improvement in diesel combustion quality, such as an unexpected improvement in cetane rating. In order to manage coke formation and maintain consistent activity profile for the oligomerization catalyst, the reaction can be performed in a moving bed reactor. Additional temperature control can be maintained by the recycling of the naphtha boiling range portions of the oligomerization product back to the reactor.

Distillate production from olefins in moving bed reactors

A feed distribution apparatus and method of using such an apparatus are provided for introducing a three-phase flow into a moving bed reactor that is operated under co-current flow conditions. The feed distribution apparatus can allow for separate introduction of liquid and solids in a manner that allows for even distribution of liquid within the solids. The gas portion of the flow can be introduced in any of a variety of convenient manners for distributing gas into a liquid or solid flow.

Feed distribution apparatus for moving bed reactor

A moving bed reactor is provided that can allow facilitate performing a reaction involving a three-phase flow under co-axial flow conditions for the solid and liquid portions of the three phase flow, while the gas portion of the three-phase flow is exposed to the solids under radial flow conditions. Methods for using such a moving bed reactor to perform a reaction, such as upgrading of a feed to distillate products, are also provided.

Moving bed reactor for processing three phase flows

Systems and methods are provided for upgrading of methane and/or small alkanes to distillate boiling range hydrocarbons. The upgrading is performed using a reaction system where various types of integration are provided from downstream reaction stages to upstream reaction stages. Such integration can include recycle of various reaction products as well as thermal integration. Having a reaction system that begins with reforming of hydrocarbons and finishes with production of distillate can enable unexpected synergies between downstream reaction stages and upstream reaction stages.

Oxygenate conversion for distillate fuel production

Systems and methods are provided for conversion of light paraffinic gases to form liquid products in a process performed in a fixed bed radial-flow reactor. The light paraffins can correspond to Cparaffins. Examples of liquid products that can be formed include C-Caromatics, such as benzene, toluene, and xylene. The fixed bed radial-flow reactor can allow for improved control over the reaction conditions for paraffin conversion in spite of the fixed bed nature of the reactor. This can allow the process to operate with improved efficiency while reducing or minimizing the complexity of operation relative to non-fixed bed reactor systems.

Fixed bed radial flow reactor for light paraffin conversion

A reforming catalyst with improved surface area is provided by using high surface area alumina doped with a stabilizer metal as a catalyst support. The surface area of the catalyst can be higher than a typical reforming catalyst, and the surface area can also be maintained under high temperature operation. This can allow use of the catalyst for reforming in a higher temperature environment while maintaining a higher surface area, which can allow for improved dispersion and/or activity of an active metal such as rhodium on the catalyst support. The catalyst can be suitable for production of syngas from natural gas or other hydrocarbon-containing feeds.

Reforming catalyst

Multiphase separators, processes and systems for converting an oxygenate and/or olefin feedstock to a hydrocarbon product are described herein.

Multiphase separator and methods of use thereof for producing hydrocarbons from oxygenates and olefins

The present disclosure relates to processes for the removal of paraffins. The processes generally include providing a Ccontaining stream including isobutylene, 1-butene, 2-butene, n-butane and isobutane, introducing the Ccontaining stream into a paraffin removal process to form an olefin rich stream, wherein the paraffin removal process is selected from extractive distillation utilizing a solvent including an organonitrile, passing the Ccontaining stream over a semi-permeable membrane and combinations thereof; and recovering the olefin rich stream from the paraffin removal process, wherein the olefin rich stream includes less than 5 wt. % paraffins.

Paraffin removal from C4 containing streams

Systems and methods are provided for controlling the flow and transport of catalyst particles within a reaction system. The flow of catalyst particles can be managed using a rotating disc or wheel that is configured within a roller volume to allow for control over the rate of catalyst flow while reducing or minimizing attrition of the catalyst particles. This can be achieved in part by maintaining a relationship between the center of the rotating disc, the inlet for catalyst particles to the roller volume, and the top wall of the roller volume so that catalyst particles are not exposed to compressive forces and/or abrasion during rotation of the disc. Additionally or alternately, the disc and roller volume surfaces can be configured to reduce or minimize the potential for catalyst particles to become trapped in 'dead space' regions within the roller volume. By using a disc to provide force for transport of particles through the roller volume, the speed of catalyst movement can be controlled at relatively slow catalyst flow rates with a reduced or minimized risk for clogging or plugging within the roller volume.

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Flemington, NJ, United States of America

Arsam Behkish