Kerry Group Services International Limited

Rti Resource Transforms International Ltd.

Other

Canadian Patents & Development Ltd.

The University of Waterloo

Energy, Mines & Resources - Canada

Natural Resources Canada

Resource Transforms International Ltd.

Kerry Luxembourg S.a.r.l.

Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation

Majerski, Piotr

Piskorz, Jan

Her Majesty in Right of Canada As Represented by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources

Jan Piskorz

Piotr Majerski

Donald S Scott

Desmond Radlein

Desmond St Radlein

Desmond St A G Radlein

Donald Strong Scott

A method of reducing a concentration of formaldehyde in an aqueous solution containing formaldehyde, hydroxyacetaldehyde and other sugar carbonyls is provided. The method includes adding an amino acid to the aqueous solution and maintaining the aqueous solution at a temperature for a duration sufficient for the formaldehyde and the amino acid to react according to a Maillard reaction to produce a final concentration of formaldehyde and a final concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde in the aqueous solution. The final concentration of formaldehyde is substantially lower than an initial concentration of formaldehyde and the final concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde is not substantially lower than an initial concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde. An aqueous solution and a method of browning a foodstuff are also provided.

Methods of reducing a concentration of formaldehyde in aqueous solutions of sugar carbonyls

A method of treating biomass feed by pyrolyzing it in the presence of superheated steam at a selected temperature for a sufficient time to produce at least one product stream.

Method of producing hodge carbonyls and oligomeric lignin

The present invention provides a method for the production of glycolaldehyde with high specificity. The hydrous thermolysis consists of the spraying of aqueous sugar solutions containing from 25 to 80% of water but preferably 30 to 60% water, as a fine mist into a reactor held at the between 500 and 600&#xb0; C., but preferably between 520 and 560&#xb0; C. and the condensation of the resulting vaporous product in a surface condenser with optional heat recovery. The residence time of the vaporous product in the reactor should be in the range 0.1&#x2013;5 seconds, but preferably in the range 0.5 to 2 seconds. Aldose monomeric sugars, preferably glucose (also known as dextrose), are preferred for use in the aqueous solution. The yield of glycolaldehyde in the condensed liquid is minimum 50% by weight of the sugar fed for glucose solutions.

Production of glycolaldehyde by hydrous thermolysis of sugars

A thermolysis process for the production of volatiles for an external combustor or liquefaction of biomass solids in which specific and previously unrecognized conditions are employed. The thermolysis is carried out in a single fluidized bed of inert material operating at near atmospheric pressure, relatively low temperature, long solids and gas residence times and moderate heating rates. The distribution of the thermolysis products among, solid (char) and gases under these conditions is unique. The product effluent can be either quenched to produce a high liquid yield in addition to a low char yield or the volatile effluent can be used in either the same combustor or a second combustor to produce heat energy a particularly high efficiency system. In using a quencher, the quenched liquid is of similar composition to those obtained by so called fast pyrolysis processes of the prior art. The specified conditions are such as to allow production of liquids in high yields in an energy efficient manner. The low severity of the conditions in comparison with previous approaches allows simplified process design and scale-up leading to lower capital and operating costs as well as easier control.

Energy efficient liquefaction of biomaterials by thermolysis

A thermolysis process for liquefaction of biomass solids in which specific and previously unrecognized conditions are employed. The thermolysis is carried out in a single fluidized bed of inert material operating at near atmospheric pressure, relatively low temperature, long solids and gas residence times and moderate heating rates. The distribution of the thermolysis products among liquid (bio-oil), solid (char) and gases under these conditions is unique. In particular, contrary to the prior art, both high liquid and low char yields are obtained. Furthermore the liquid is of similar composition to those obtained by so called fast pyrolysis processes of the prior art. The specified conditions are such as to allow production of liquids in high yields in an energy efficient manner. The low severity of the conditions in comparison with previous approaches allows simplified process design and scaleup leading to lower capital and operating costs as well as easier control.

Process for the thermal conversion of biomass to liquids

A process is described for hydrotreating a heavy hydrocarbon oil containing a substantial portion of material which boils above 524.degree. C. to form lower boiling materials, which comprises adding to the heavy hydrocarbon oil as solvent a paraffinic, isoparaffinic or cyclic paraffinic hydrocarbon which is also hydrogen-rich and has a critical temperature of less than 500.degree. C. to thereby form a diluted feedstock mixture and subjecting said feedstock mixture to hydrotreating in the presence of activated carbon catalyst at a temperature and pressure substantially at or greater than the critical temperature and pressure of the solvent.

Hydrotreating of heavy hydrocarbon oils in supercritical fluids

A process is described for the production of anhydrosugars such as levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-.beta.-D-glucopyranose), from liquids obtained by the fast thermal pyrolysis of pretreated lignocellulosics or celluloses. In this process, the pyrolytic liquids containing the anhydrosugars are produced with a substantially reduced amount of lignin-derived components by using as feedstock materials which have been previously delignified and then pretreated, or by preferential oxidation of the lignin fraction of a pretreated biomass during pyrolysis. The preparation from pretreated biomass of pyrolytic liquors from which the lignin derived chemical products of fast pyrolysis are absent or in low concentrations permits simpler and more economical recovery of crystalline levoglucosan and other anhydrosugars, or a more economical preparation of readily fermentable aqueous sugar solutions therefrom. A new procedure for the recovery of crystalline levoglucosan from such solutions is described.

Process for the production of anhydrosugars from lignin and cellulose

A process for the production of fermentable sugars from wood or other cellulose-containing biomasses, comprises the steps of (a) hydrolysing the biomass with a dilute sulfuric acid to dissolve hemicellulose while leaving most of cellulose in a solid phase, (b) separating the cellulose-containing solid phase, (c) subjecting the solid phase to rapid pyrolysis at a temperature of 400.degree.-600.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure, preferably in a fluidized bed reactor with a short vapor residence time, to obtain a crude pyrolysis product by condensing the pyrolytic vapors, (d) adjusting the water content of the crude product to form an aqueous phase with high carbohydrate content and a water-insoluble phase containing lignin-derived material, and (e) separating the aqueous phase. Optionally, the aqueous phase may be purified, e.g. by absorption.

Growing community of inventors

Waterloo, Canada

Jan Piskorz