Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Azadeh Zaker

Michael T Timko

Geoffrey A Tompsett

Methods are described herein for upgrading ad refining hydrocarbons, and producing at least one petrochemical product, the method including: preparing a reaction mixture by adding at least two of: a quantity of bioethanol, a quantity of hydrocarbon, and a quantity of water to a reactor containment; combining the reaction mixture with a quantity of catalyst in the reactor containment; applying reaction conditions to the reactor containment thereby generating supercritical conditions for the reaction mixture and obtaining a product mixture; and extracting at least one petrochemical product from the product mixture.

Ethanol derived petrochemicals

A petroleum refining method for upgrading petroleum products improves the efficiency and reduces the costs of upgrading oils, such as lipids, bitumen, crude oil, fracking oils, synthetic oils, and other feeds, to produce useful fuels and chemical precursor streams. Usage of a specific type of zeolite (ZSM-5) catalyst, supercritical water to control coke formation, and a specific response to phase behavior and other catalytic effects optimize the process. A prescribed set of reactor conditions employing supercritical water increases activity of the catalyst in industrial reactions.

Growing community of inventors

Worcester, MA, United States of America

Azadeh Zaker