University of Pretoria

United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Michael David Heydenrych

Akwasi A Boateng

Walter Focke

Ryan Merckel

Stephen David Swart

Olinto Del Fabbro

Frederick Labuschagne

Akwasi Acheampong Boateng

The invention provides a catalyst system and method for the deoxygenation of hydrocarbons, such as bio-oil, using a sulphide-sulfate or an oxide-carbonate (LDH) system. The invention extends to a pyrolysis process of a carbonaceous bio-mass wherein a first combustion zone is carried out in one or more combustion fluidised beds in which a particulate material including chemically looping deoxygenation catalyst particles is fluidised and heated, and a second pyrolysis zone carried out in one or more pyrolysis fluidised beds in which the hot particles, including the catalyst particles, heated in the combustion zone are used for pyrolysis of the bio-mass, said combustion zone being operated at a temperature of from 250&#xb0; C. to 1100&#xb0; C., typically around 900&#xb0; C., and the pyrolysis zone being operated at a temperature of from 250&#xb0; C. to 900&#xb0; C., typically 450&#xb0; C. to 600&#xb0; C., said catalyst particles being oxygenated in the pyrolysis zone in the presence of oxygenates in the pyrolysis oil and regenerated in the combustion zone either by calcining to drive off the carbon oxides, such as CO, or by reduction to its form which is active for deoxygenation of the pyrolysis oil.

Oxygenate reduction catalyst and process

A carbonaceous feed pyrolysis apparatus is provided including two or more hot particle fluidised beds, one of which contains a combustion zone, and one or more positive displacement apparatus for the transfer of hot particles beds. Also provided is a bio-oil production process including two or more fluidised beds, a first combustion zone carried out in one or more combustion fluidised beds in which a particulate material is fluidised and heated, and a second pyrolysis zone carried out in one or more pyrolysis fluidised beds in which hot particles heated in the combustion zone are used for pyrolysis of bio-mass, the combustion zone being operated at or about atmospheric pressure at a temperature of from 400&#xb0; C. to 1100&#xb0; C., and the pyrolysis zone being operated at a pressure of from atmospheric to 100 Barg at a temperature of from 400&#xb0; C. to 900&#xb0; C.

Apparatus for endothermic reactions

The invention provides an apparatus which consists of two fluidized bedsandseparated by a vertical divides'. A positive displacement device such as an augermoves the bed material from the reduction side to the combustion side of the device below the fluidization zone. The height of the two fluidized beds is equalized by movement of the bed material through a holeIn the vertical divider, from the high temperature side(zone) to the tow temperature side(zone). The bed material that moves through the holeprovides energy to drive reactions that may occur on the reduction side. Energy may also be provided to zoneby means of conductive and radiative heat transfer through the dividing wall. Energy is provided to zoneby means of an exothermic reaction, typically combustion of a fuelusing air

A carbonaceous feed pyrolysis apparatus is provided including two or more hot particle fluidized beds, and one or more positive displacement apparatus for the transfer of hot particles between two or more of the beds, wherein one or more of the fluidized beds contains a combustion zone. A bio-oil production process is also provided, including pyrolysis of a carbonaceous bio-mass using two or more fluidized beds, including a first combustion zone carried out in one or more combustion fluidized beds in which a particulate material is fluidized and heated, and a second pyrolysis zone carried out in one or more pyrolysis fluidized beds in which the hot particles heated in the combustion zone are used for pyrolysis of the bio-mass.

Growing community of inventors

Lyttleton Manor, South Africa

Michael David Heydenrych