Abstract: A renewable fuel may be obtained from a bio-oil containing C3-C5 oxygenates. In a first step, the bio-oil is subjected to a condensation reaction in which the oxygenates undergo a carbon-carbon bond forming reaction to produce a stream containing C6+ oxygenates. In a second step, the stream is hydrotreated to produce C6+ hydrocarbons.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Date of Patent:
December 1, 2015
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Lorenz J. Bauer, Leslie May, Jeffrey C. Trewella, Maria Magdalena Ramirez Corredores, Christopher Paradise, Nicholas Kent
Abstract: A reactor and/or process is disclosed for fluidized cracking of solid particulate biomass material, including a first mixing zone where a particulate stream comprising solid particulate biomass is mixed with a lift gas and becomes fluidized, and including a second mixing zone where a heat carrier material is mixed with the fluidized solid particulate biomass material.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 5, 2010
Date of Patent:
September 1, 2015
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Bartek, Ronald Cordle, Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor
Abstract: A process and system for separating bio-gasoline, bio-diesel and bio-fuel oil fractions from a bio-oil, and for producing a renewable gasoline including at least in part the bio-gasoline fraction, is provided. The process comprises separating bio-oil into a bio-gasoline fraction and a heavy fraction based on their boiling points. At least a portion of the bio-gasoline fraction is directly blended with a petroleum-derived gasoline, without any prior hydrotreatment, to thereby provide a renewable gasoline composition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 29, 2010
Date of Patent:
June 23, 2015
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Maria Magdalena Ramirez Corredores, Vincente Sanchez Iglesias
Abstract: Emissions of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from diesel engines may be reduced by blending a renewable hydrocarbon distillate with a base diesel fuel. The base diesel may be a fossil diesel fuel, a Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel as well as a hydroprocessed biodiesel fuel or a combination thereof. The renewable hydrocarbon distillate is a fraction from hydrotreated bio-oil having a boiling point between from about 320° F. to about 700° F.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 25, 2013
Date of Patent:
June 9, 2015
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Jeffrey C. Trewella, Vicente Sanchez, Roger L. Leisenring, Jr.
Abstract: Catalyst compositions comprising a phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component and a silica-containing binder, and methods for making and using same, are disclosed. More specifically, processes for making a catalyst for biomass conversion are provided. The process includes: treating a ZSM-5 zeolite with a phosphorous-containing compound to form a phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component; preparing a slurry comprising the phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component and a silica-containing binder; and shaping the slurry into shaped bodies. Such catalysts can be used for the thermocatalytic conversion of particulate biomass to liquid products such as bio-oil, resulting in higher bio-oil yields and lower coke than conventional catalysts.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 13, 2012
Date of Patent:
June 2, 2015
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Bruce Adkins, Dennis Stamires, Robert Bartek, Michael Brady, John Hackskaylo
Abstract: Disclosed are substantially non-carcinogenic bio oil-derived residue compositions produced from the pyrolysis or thermo catalytic conversion of biomass, and their use as solvents in the production of tires.
Abstract: Disclosed is a process for biomass conversion which includes co-processing the biomass with thermoplastic and non-thermoplastic polymer based materials in a catalytic pyrolysis reactor to convert such to liquid hydrocarbons; wherein hydrogen atoms originating with the polymer materials can remove oxygen from oxygenated hydrocarbons produced in the conversion of the biomass in the reactor.
Abstract: An improved biomass feed system and processes for transporting biomass to downstream processing locations are disclosed. The system uses a pressurized gas to assist in the transporting of the biomass to the conversion reactor.
Abstract: A two-stage reactor is disclosed for the conversion of solid particulate biomass material. The reactor is designed to maximize conversion of the solid biomass material, while limiting excess cracking of primary reaction products. The two-stage reactor comprises a first stage reactor, in which solid biomass material is thermally pyrolyzed to primary reaction products. The primary reaction products are catalytically converted in a second stage reactor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 16, 2010
Date of Patent:
April 28, 2015
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael Brady, Ronald Lee Cordle, Peter Loezos, Dennis Stamires
Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting biomass to fuels and/or valuable chemicals. The process comprises the steps of a) activating biomass to make it more susceptible to conversion; c) partially converting the biomass to a solubilized material; and d) subjecting the unconverted biomass to a second conversion step. The process optionally comprises a step b) of adding a solvent to the activated biomass. In a preferred embodiment the solubilized biomass obtained in step c) is removed before the unconverted biomass is subjected to step d).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 1, 2011
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2015
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Paul O'Connor, Dennis Stamires, Sjoerd Daamen
Abstract: A process and system for separating and upgrading bio-oil into renewable fuels is provided. The process comprises separating bio-oil into a light fraction and heavy fraction based on their boiling points. The heavy fraction is then subjected to hydrotreatment, while the light fraction is not subjected to hydrotreatment. At least a portion of the un-hydrotreated light fraction and at least a portion of the hydrotreated heavy fraction are blended with petroleum-derived gasoline to thereby provide a renewable gasoline, and at least a portion of the hydrotreated heavy fraction is blended with petroleum-derived diesel to thereby provide a renewable diesel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 27, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 3, 2015
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Maria Magdalena Ramirez Corredores, Vicente Sanchez Iglesias
Abstract: A process for producing renewable biofuels from biomass is provided wherein a bio-oil containing stream is hydrotreated in an integrated system which uses streams and components generated or obtained from the biomass treatment and conversion.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 16, 2013
Publication date:
February 19, 2015
Applicant:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Maria Magdalena Ramirez Corredores, Leslie May
Abstract: Disclosed are catalyst compositions including zeolite and silica components, methods of making, and processes of using in the thermo-catalytic conversion of biomass. Such disclosed methods of making include treating the zeolite with phosphorous during formation of the catalyst rather than prior to or after catalyst formation.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 9, 2013
Publication date:
February 12, 2015
Applicant:
KIOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Bruce Adkins, Jerry Jon Springs, Ling Zhou
Abstract: A green process and system are disclosed for utilizing a biomass filter aid in the filtration of a bio-oil. The process comprises filtering a bio-oil containing residual solids from a conversion reaction in the presence of the biomass filter aid to produce a filtered bio-oil. The biomass filter aid facilitates efficient removal of residual solids from the bio-oil. The spent biomass filter aid containing the residual solids may be recycled as a conversion feedstock or used as a combustion heat source in the biomass conversion system.
Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing fluidizable particles of a biomass/catalyst composite material. The process comprises the steps of (i) providing a particulate, solid biomass material; (ii) forming a composite of the biomass material and a catalytic material; (iii) subjecting the biomass material to a thermal treatment at a torrefaction temperature at or above 200° C., and low enough to avoid significant conversion of the biomass material to liquid conversion products; and (iv) forming fluidizable particles from the biomass material. Step (ii) may be carried out before or after step (iii).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 10, 2009
Date of Patent:
January 13, 2015
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Bartek, Dennis Stamires, Michael Brady
Abstract: Spent catalyst or regenerated catalyst from a biomass conversion unit may be rejuvenated by treating at least a portion of the spent catalyst or regenerated catalyst with a treatment acid, the treatment acid comprising an inorganic acid or an organic acid or a mixture thereof.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 1, 2013
Publication date:
January 1, 2015
Applicant:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Ling Zhou, Amanda Bryant, Maria Magdalena Ramirez, Leslie May, Richard A. Engelman, Bruce Adkins, Darrell Rainer
Abstract: A process for biomass catalytic cracking is described herein. More specifically, the process comprises heating the cellulosic biomass to a conversion temperature in presence of a mixed metal oxide catalyst represented by the formula (X1O).(X2O)a.(X3YbO4), wherein X1, X2 and X3 are alkaline earth elements selected from the group of Mg, Ca, Be, Ba , and mixture thereof, and Y is a metal selected from the group of Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ga, B, La, P and mixture thereof.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 10, 2011
Date of Patent:
December 30, 2014
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Bartek, Michael Brady, Dennis Stamires
Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining properties of hydrocarbonaceous samples including a component prepared from: 1) the thermo-catalytic conversion of biomass, or 2) the pyrolytic conversion of biomass with subsequent upgrading. The determination of the property(ies) is by use of a near-infrared spectra based correlation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 20, 2012
Date of Patent:
December 16, 2014
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Jorge Gonzalez, Leslie May, Vicente Sanchez
Abstract: Renewable fuels are produced in commercial quantities and with enhanced efficiency by integrating a bio-oil production system with a conventional petroleum refinery so that the bio-oil is co-processed with a petroleum-derived stream in the refinery. The techniques used to integrate the bio-oil production system and conventional petroleum refineries are selected based on the quality of the bio-oil and the desired product slate from the refinery.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 29, 2011
Date of Patent:
November 18, 2014
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Maria Magdalena Ramirez Corredores, Vicente Sanchez Iglesias
Abstract: A process for pretreating a solid, cellulose-containing biomass material which pretreatment comprises contacting the solid biomass material with an Ionic Liquid medium under sub-solvating conditions. The pretreatment results in an opening up of the texture of the solid biomass material, while no or a limited amount of biomass material is dissolved. The Ionic Liquid medium preferably is an inorganic molten salt hydrate. The pretreated biomass material can be as a feedstock in any process that benefits from the change in texture resulting from the pretreatment.