Abstract: A process and system for separating a light fraction, a bio-distillate fraction, and a heavy fraction from a bio-oil, and for producing a renewable distillate including at least in part the bio-distillate fraction and a stabilizing additive, is provided. The process comprises separating bio-oil into light, bio-distillate, and heavy fractions based on their boiling points. At least a portion of the bio-distillate fraction and a stabilizing additive are blended with a petroleum-derived-diesel-range stream, without any prior hydrotreatment, to thereby provide a renewable distillate composition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 29, 2010
Date of Patent:
February 19, 2013
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Maria Magdalena Ramirez Corredores, Jennifer Sorrells, Changan Zhang
Abstract: Coating compositions containing components derived from the thermo-catalytic conversion of biomass are provided. The components derived from the thermo-catalytic conversion of biomass are useful in increasing the bond strength retention of such coating compositions to the surface of a substrate.
Abstract: A process for producing catalyst for biomass catalytic cracking is disclosed herein. The process includes modifying a phyllosilicate to produce a modified phyllosilicate having an improved yield of a pyrolysis reaction. The modification of the phyllosilicate includes leaching the clay with an acid or basic solution to form a leached clay preparation, calcining the leached clay and contacting the treated clay with a suspension comprising metal ions for ion-exchange. The modified clay catalyst can then be mixed with inorganic materials such as zeolites and dried to form fluidizable microspheres.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 7, 2012
Publication date:
January 10, 2013
Applicant:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Bartek, Michael Brady, Dennis Stamires
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:
Application
Filed:
April 13, 2012
Publication date:
January 3, 2013
Applicant:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Bruce Adkins, Dennis Stamires, Robert Bartek, Michael Brady, John Hackskaylo
Abstract: Liquid suspensions are disclosed comprising a suspending medium, small particles of biomass, and small particles of an inorganic material. The inorganic material stabilizes the suspension, so that it may be transported by pipeline or tank car without developing a sediment.
Abstract: A process for producing bio-fuel from biomass is disclosed herein. The process includes processing the mean particle diameter of the biomass by mechanical processing to a size ranging from 1 ?m to 1000 ?m to form particulated biomass. The particulated biomass is mixed with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a suspension, wherein the suspension includes between 1 weight percent to 40 weight percent particulated biomass. The suspension is heated to a temperature between 50° C. and 550° C. The heated suspension is fed into a unit selected from the group consisting of a pyrolysis reactor, a fluid catalytic cracking unit, a delayed coker, a fluid coker, a hydroprocessing unit, and a hydrocracking unit; and then at least a portion of the particulated biomass of the heated suspension is converted into fuel.
Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting lignocellulosic material to liquid fuels. In the process the cellulose is dissolved in an Ionic Liquid medium. The conversion process may comprise pyrolysis, thermal cracking, hydrocracking, catalytic cracking, hydrotreatment, or a combination thereof. The conversion reaction is carried out in the presence of lignin. The lignin is at least partially converted in the process. The Ionic Liquid medium preferably is an inorganic molten salt hydrate.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 1, 2010
Publication date:
December 27, 2012
Applicant:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Jacobus Johannes Heinerman, Jacob Adriaan Moulijn, Paul O'Connor, Jacobus Cornelis Rasser, Armand Eduard Rosheuvel
Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting cellulose to liquid fuels. In the process the cellulose is dissolved in an ionic Liquid medium. The conversion process may comprise pyrolysis, thermal cracking, hydrocracking, catalytic cracking, hydrotreatment, or a combination thereof. The Ionic Liquid medium preferably is an inorganic molten salt hydrate.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 1, 2010
Publication date:
December 20, 2012
Applicant:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Jacobus Johannes Heinerman, Jacob Adriaan Moulijn, Paul O'Connor, Jacobus Cornelis Rasser, Armand Eduard Rosheuvel
Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting lignocellulosic material to liquid fuels. In the process the cellulose is dissolved in an Ionic Liquid. The conversion process may comprise pyrolysis, thermal cracking, hydrocracking, catalytic cracking, hydrotreatment, or a combination thereof. Undissolved lignin is removed from the Ionic Liquid medium, and is converted in a separate conversion process. The Ionic Liquid preferably is an inorganic molten salt hydrate.
Abstract: A process and system for removing bound water from bio-oil by azeotropic distillation. The process includes combining a bound-water-containing bio-oil with an azeotrope agent and subjecting the resulting treated bio-oil to azeotropic distillation under reduced pressure. The azeotropic distillation removes a substantial portion of the bound water from the bio-oil, thus producing a water-depleted bio-oil that is less corrosive, more stable, and more readily miscible with hydrocarbons.
Abstract: A process is disclosed for making a biomass susceptible to depolymerization or liquefaction under mild conditions. The process comprises introducing into the biomass a material susceptible to the absorption of electro-magnetic radiation to form a radiation absorbent biomass. The radiation absorbent biomass is subjected to electro-magnetic radiation to form an activated biomass.
Abstract: A process is disclosed for dissolving the cellulose component if a cellulose-containing biomass material in an Ionic Liquid medium. The biomass material contains minerals. At least part of the minerals are removed prior to contacting the biomass material with the Ionic Liquid medium. The Ionic Liquid medium preferably is an inorganic molten salt hydrate.
Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to methods, systems, and compositions for preparing a solid biomass for fast pyrolysis. The method includes contacting the solid biomass with an inorganic material present in an effective amount for increasing fast pyrolysis yield of an organic liquid product (e.g., bio-oil). In various embodiments, the inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum sulfate, aluminum nitrate, aluminum chloride, aluminum hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and combinations thereof.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 11, 2012
Publication date:
November 1, 2012
Applicant:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Bartek, Michael Brady, Dennis Stamires
Abstract: Preparing solid biomass particles for catalytic conversion includes agitating solid biomass particles and providing a biomass-catalyst mixture to a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass-catalyst mixture includes the solid biomass particles and a catalyst. Agitating solid biomass particles includes flowing a gas to provide a velocity to at least a portion of the solid biomass particles sufficient to reduce their sizes. Co-processing a biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock includes liquefying at least a portion of a biomass-catalyst mixture and co-processing at least a portion of the liquefied biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock in a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass feedstock includes a plurality of solid biomass particles and a catalyst, which is liquefied to produce a liquefied biomass feedstock.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 2009
Date of Patent:
October 16, 2012
Assignee:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor, Robert Bartek
Abstract: A process for producing fuel from biomass is disclosed herein. The process includes torrefying biomass material at a temperature between 80° C. to 400° C. to form particulated biomass having a mean average particle size between 1 ?m and 1000 ?m. The particulated biomass is mixed with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a suspension, wherein the suspension includes from 1 weight percent to 40 weight percent particulated biomass. The suspension is fed into a unit selected from the group consisting of a pyrolysis reactor, a fluid catalytic cracking unit, a delayed coker, a fluid coker, a hydroprocessing unit, and a hydrocracking unit, and then at least a portion of the particulated biomass of the suspension is converted into fuel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 2, 2010
Date of Patent:
October 16, 2012
Assignee:
KiOR Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Bartek, Michael Brady, Dennis Stamires, Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor, Jacobus Cornelius Rasser
Abstract: A process for biomass catalytic cracking is disclosed herein. More specifically, the process is in presence of is 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, wherein the catalyst is formed by calcining at least one compound comprising at least one alkaline earth element and a metal element.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 10, 2011
Publication date:
September 13, 2012
Applicant:
KIOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Bartek, Michael Brady, Dennis Stamires
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:
Application
Filed:
December 29, 2011
Publication date:
August 30, 2012
Applicant:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Maria Magdalena Ramirez Corredores, Vicente Sanchez Iglesias
Abstract: A process is described for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass. The process comprises swelling the lignocellulosic biomass with an aqueous liquid. The pretreated lignocellulosic biomass may be used as a feedstock for the enzymatic conversion to ethanol, or in a thermal conversion. process to produce bio-oil. The pretreatment results in a greater yield and, in the case of a thermal conversion process, a better quality of the bio-oil. The pretreatment process may be used to adjust the composition and amount of inorganic material present in the lignocellulosic biomass material.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 27, 2012
Publication date:
August 23, 2012
Applicant:
KiOR, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael Brady, Paul O'Connor, Dennis Stamires
Abstract: More stable and valuable bio-oil produced from biomasses are provided. More specifically, more stable and valuable bio-oil useful as heating oil is provided. Particularly, various embodiments of the present invention provide for a bio-oil having sufficient heating value and stability to be useful as heating oil without the need to hydrotreat the bio-oil or use a similar deoxygenating process.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 11, 2011
Publication date:
August 16, 2012
Applicant:
KIOR, INC.
Inventors:
Maria Magdalena Ramirez Corredores, Vicente Sanchez
Abstract: More stable and valuable bio-oil compositions produced from biomasses are provided. Particularly, various embodiments of the present invention provide for a bio-oil composition that has chemical and physical properties that make it more cost effective and useful as a fuel without having to undergo deoxygenating processes such as hydrotreating.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 11, 2011
Publication date:
August 16, 2012
Applicant:
KIOR, INC.
Inventors:
Maria Magdalena Ramirez Corredores, Vicente Sanchez, Xiaowei Tong