University of Utah Research Foundation

Ambre Energy Limited

Wlodzimierz W Zmierczak

Jan D Miller

Joseph S Shabtai

Esteban Chornet

Jan Hupka

Steven Messiter

Edward Choros

Raj Rajamani

Nicholas Drinnan

A method of reacting compounds can include directing a liquid into a helical constrained flow () having an inner circumferential flow surface and an outer circumferential flow surface. The helical constrained flow () can be formed around an axial interior volume (). At least a portion of the helical constrained flow can be exposed to a sparging portion () to allow a fluid to be sparged into the liquid along the helical constrained flow (). The fluid reactant can be sparged through the helical constrained flow so as to form a fluid product.

Fluid-sparged helical channel reactor and associated methods

Processes for conversion of lignin to products such as phenolic compounds and biofuels prepared from such phenolic compounds are disclosed and described. A process for conversion of a lignin material to bio-fuels can include subjecting the lignin material to a base catalyzed depolymerization reaction to produce a partially depolymerized lignin. The partially depolymerized lignin can then be subjected to a stabilization/partial hydrodeoxygenation reaction to form a partially hydrodeoxygenated product. Following partial hydrodeoxygenation, the partially hydrodeoxygenated product can be reacted in a hydroprocessing step to form a bio-fuel. Each of these reaction steps can be performed in single or multiple steps, depending on the design of the process. The production of an intermediate partially hydrodeoxygenation product and subsequent reaction thereof can significantly reduce or eliminate reactor plugging and catalyst coking. A variety of useful bio-fuels such as fuels, fuel additives, and the like, including gasoline and jet or rocket fuels are describe which can be readily produced from renewable lignin materials in an improved conversion process.

Processes for catalytic conversion of lignin to liquid bio-fuels and novel bio-fuels

Processes for conversion of lignin to liquid products such as bio-fuels and fuel additives are disclosed and described. A process for conversion of a lignin material to bio-fuels can include subjecting the lignin material to a base catalyzed depolymerization reaction to produce a partially depolymerized lignin. The partially depolymerized lignin can then be subjected to a stabilization/partial hydrodeoxygenation reaction to form a partially hydrodeoxygenated product. Following partial hydrodeoxygenation, the partially hydrodeoxygenated product can be reacted in a hydroprocessing step to form a bio-fuel. Each of these reaction steps can be performed in single or multiple steps, depending on the design of the process. The production of an intermediate partially hydrodeoxygenation product and subsequent reaction thereof can significantly reduce or eliminate reactor plugging and catalyst coking. A variety of useful bio-fuels such as fuels, fuel additives, and the like, including gasoline and jet or rocket fuels are describe which can be readily produced from renewable lignin materials in an improved conversion process.

A method of synthesizing and reacting compounds in a cyclone reactor () is disclosed and described. A liquid carrier can be provided which can include solid catalyst particles, liquid catalysts, and/or liquid reactants. The liquid carrier can be formed into a swirl layer () within the cyclone reactor (). A reactant composition including at least one reactant can also be injected through at least a portion of the swirl layer () such that at least a portion of the reactant is converted to a reaction product. The cyclone reactor () allows for improved contact of reactants and catalyst, with fine temperature control, thus increasing reaction yields and selectivity

Cyclone reactor and associated methods

A high-yield process for converting lignin into reformulated, partially oxygenated gasoline compositions of high quality is provided. The process is a two-stage catalytic reaction process that produces a reformulated, partially oxygenated gasoline product with a controlled amount of aromatics. In the first stage of the process, a lignin feed material is subjected to a base-catalyzed depolymerization reaction, followed by a selective hydrocracking reaction which utilizes a superacid catalyst to produce a high oxygen-content depolymerized lignin product mainly composed of alkylated phenols, alkylated alkoxyphenols, and alkylbenzenes. In the second stage of the process, the depolymerized lignin product is subjected to an exhaustive etherification reaction, optionally followed by a partial ring hydrogenation reaction, to produce a reformulated, partially oxygenated/etherified gasoline product, which includes a mixture of substituted phenyl/methyl ethers, cycloalkyl methyl ethers, C,-C,alkylbenzenes, C,-C,branched and multibranched paraffins, and alkylated and polyalkylated cycloalkanes.

Process for conversion of lignin to reformulated, partially oxygenated gasoline

A process for converting lignin into high-quality reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline compositions in high yields is disclosed. The process is a two-stage, catalytic reaction process that produces a reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline product with a controlled amount of aromatics. In the first stage, a lignin material is subjected to a base-catalyzed depolymerization reaction in the presence of a supercritical alcohol as a reaction medium, to thereby produce a depolymerized lignin product. In the second stage, the depolymerized lignin product is subjected to a sequential two-step hydroprocessing reaction to produce a reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline product. In the first hydroprocessing step, the depolymerized lignin is contacted with a hydrodeoxygenation catalyst to produce a hydrodeoxygenated intermediate product. In the second hydroprocessing step, the hydrodeoxygenated intermediate product is contacted with a hydrocracking/ring hydrogenation catalyst to produce the reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline product which includes various desirable naphthenic and paraffinic compounds.

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Wlodzimierz W Zmierczak