Dartmouth College

Vertimass, LLC

University of California

Si Options, LLC

Charles E Wyman

John R Hannon

Bin Yang

Charles M Cai

Norman D Hinman

Rajeev Kumar

Taiying Zhang

Todd A Lloyd

Phillip Christopher

Bhogeswararao Seemala

The disclosure provides a system for production of reactive intermediates from lignocellulosic biomass. The reactive intermediates can be used as platform chemicals for biological conversions or can be further catalytically upgraded to be used as 'drop in' reagents for fuels. The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for processing biomass to biofuels and intermediates.

Co-solvent to produce reactive intermediates from biomass

A method is disclosed for converting biomass into a fuel additive, the method comprising: liquefying the biomass to form a liquor; neutralizing the liquor; precipitating lignin out of the liquor; extracting furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from the liquor; and hydrodeoxygenating (HDO) the extracted furfurals over a Cu&#x2014;Ni/TiOcatalyst. The catalyst for hydrodeoxygenating (HDO) furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to methylated furans comprises copper-nickel (Cu&#x2014;Ni) particles supported on titanium dioxide (TiO), and wherein the copper-nickel particles form core-shell structures in which copper (Cu) is enriched at a surface of the catalyst.

Method and system for hybrid catalytic biorefining of biomass to methylated furans and depolymerized technical lignin

Systems are provided that permit temperature control of a catalyst bed for conversion of alcohols to fuel hydrocarbons by modulating the water content of the alcohol feed stream provided to the catalyst bed. In some embodiments a secondary catalyst bed is provided for the conversion of light hydrocarbons found in the initial hydrocarbon product to fuel hydrocarbons that are liquid at ambient temperature and pressure.

Systems for improving yields of hydrocarbon fuels from alcohols

Systems and methods are provided that permit temperature control of a catalyst bed for conversion of alcohols to fuel hydrocarbons by modulating the water content of the alcohol feed stream provided to the catalyst bed. Heat generated by exothermic reactions in the catalyst bed can be utilized to pre-heat the alcohol feed stream. In some embodiments a secondary catalyst bed is provided for the conversion of light hydrocarbons found in the initial hydrocarbon product to fuel hydrocarbons that are liquid at ambient temperature and pressure.

Systems and methods for improving yields of hydrocarbon fuels from alcohols

Systems are presented that reduce energy and water consumption in processes for producing fuel from renewable alcohol-containing feedstreams. Alcohol content is converted directly to hydrocarbon transport fuels in a catalytic process, with heat transferred between intermediate process streams to reduce heat energy consumption. Overall water consumption is reduced by recovery of water from the catalytic process and reduction of water temperature to reduce evaporative losses.

Systems for reducing resource consumption in production of alcohol fuel by conversion to hydrocarbon fuels

Systems and methods are presented that reduce energy and water consumption in processes for producing fuel from renewable alcohol-containing feedstreams. Alcohol content is converted directly to hydrocarbon transport fuels in a catalytic process, with heat transferred between intermediate process streams to reduce heat energy consumption. Overall water consumption is reduced by recovery of water from the catalytic process and reduction of water temperature to reduce evaporative losses.

Systems and methods for reducing energy consumption in production of ethanol fuel by conversion to hydrocarbon fuels

Disclosed is a method for converting cellulose in a lignocellulosic biomass. The method provides for a lignin-blocking polypeptide and/or protein treatment of high lignin solids. The treatment enhances cellulase availability in cellulose conversion and allows for the determination of optimized pretreatment conditions. Additionally, ethanol yields from a Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation process are improved 5-25% by treatment with a lignin-blocking polypeptide and/or protein.

Lignin blockers and uses thereof

Disclosed is a method for removing minerals from a cellulosic biomass. For example, the biomass may be prewashed with an acid solution and rinsed with water to remove minerals prior to acid saccharification. The removal of minerals may reduce overall acid requirements, and decrease pretreatment costs.

Removal of minerals from cellulosic biomass

Disclosed is a method for converting cellulose in a lignocellulosic biomass. The method provides for a lignin-blocking polypeptide and/or protein treatment of high lignin solids. The treatment enhances cellulase availability in cellulose conversion and allows for the determination of optimized pretreatment conditions. Additionally, ethanol yields from a Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation process are improved 5-25% by treatment with a lignin-blocking polypeptide and/or protein. Thus, a more efficient and economical method of processing lignin containing biomass materials utilizes a polypeptide/protein treatment step that effectively blocks lignin binding of cellulase.

Silicon-containing products, such as silicon, silicon carbide and silicon nitride, containing less than 0.01 weight percent total mineral impurities and selectively determined carbon-to-silicon ratios. The products are derived from plant matter, such as rice hulls and rice straw, containing at least three weight percent silica. Methods are provided for making such high purity silicon-containing products by leaching silica-containing plant matter with aqueous sulfuric acid under controlled temperatures, pressures and reaction times to remove minerals and metals while adjusting the mole ratio of fixed carbon to silica, and then thermally treating under controlled conditions to produce the desired product.

High purity silicon-containing products

Disclosed is a method for converting cellulose in a lignocellulosic biomass. The method provides for a lignin-blocking polypeptide and/or protein treatment of high lignin solids. The treatment enhances cellulase availability in cellulose conversion. Cellulase efficiencies are improved by the protein or polypeptide treatment. The treatment may be used in combination with steam explosion and acid prehydrolysis techniques. Hydrolysis yields from lignin containing biomass are enhanced 5-20%, and enzyme utilization is increased from 10% to 50%. Thus, a more efficient and economical method of processing lignin containing biomass materials utilizes a polypeptide/protein treatment step that effectively blocks lignin binding of cellulase.

Lignin-blocking treatment of biomass and uses thereof

A method for producing carbon-silica products from silica-containing plant matter such as rice hulls or straw by leaching with sulfuric acid to remove non-silica minerals and metal while adjusting the mole ratio of fixed carbon to silica in the resultant product. The carbon and silica are intimately mixed on a micron or submicron scale and are characterized by high purity and reactivity, small particle size, high porosity, and contain volatile carbon that can be used as a source of energy for the production of silicon-containing products from the carbon-silica products. High purity silicon-containing products made from the carbon-silica products of the invention are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Riverside, CA, United States of America

Charles E Wyman