Abstract: Some variations provide a process for producing mixed alcohols, comprising: purifying a biogas feedstock to generate a renewable natural gas stream comprising methane; introducing the renewable natural gas stream into a methane-to-syngas unit operated at effective conditions to convert the methane to a first syngas stream containing at least H2, CO, and CO2; purifying the first syngas stream, including separating the CO2 from the first syngas stream, and optionally separating some of the H2 from the first syngas stream, thereby generating a clean syngas stream; introducing the clean syngas stream into a mixed-alcohol reactor operated at effective alcohol synthesis conditions with an alcohol-synthesis catalyst, thereby generating mixed alcohols; and purifying the mixed alcohols to generate a mixed-alcohol product. The mixed-alcohol product may be blended with a hydrocarbon fuel, such as gasoline, to produce a blended fuel.

Abstract: It has been discovered that mixed-alcohol production can utilize the waste tail gas stream from the pressure-swing adsorption section of an industrial hydrogen plant. Some variations provide a process for producing mixed alcohols, comprising: obtaining a tail-gas stream from a methane-to-syngas unit (e.g., a steam methane reforming reactor); compressing the tail-gas stream; separating the tail-gas stream into at least a syngas stream, a CO2-rich stream, and a CH4-rich stream; introducing the syngas stream into a mixed-alcohol reactor operated at effective alcohol synthesis conditions in the presence of an alcohol-synthesis catalyst, thereby generated mixed alcohols; and purifying the mixed alcohols to generate a mixed-alcohol product.

Abstract: Higher mixed alcohols are produced from syngas contacting a catalyst in a reactor. The catalyst has a first component of molybdenum or tungsten, a second component of vanadium, a third component of iron, cobalt, nickel or palladium and optionally a fourth component of a promoter. The first component forms alcohols, while the vanadium and the third component stimulates carbon chain growth to produce higher alcohols.

Abstract: Higher mixed alcohols are produced from syngas contacting a catalyst in a reactor. The catalyst has a first component of molybdenum or tungsten, a second component of vanadium, a third component of iron, cobalt, nickel or palladium and optionally a fourth component of a promoter. The first component forms alcohols, while the vanadium and the third component stimulates carbon chain growth to produce higher alcohols.

Abstract: Higher mixed alcohols are produced from syngas contacting a catalyst in a reactor. The catalyst has a first component of molybdenum or tungsten, a second component of vanadium, a third component of iron, cobalt, nickel or palladium and optionally a fourth component of a promoter. The first component forms alcohols, while the vanadium and the third component stimulates carbon chain growth to produce higher alcohols.

Abstract: Higher mixed alcohols are produced from syngas contacting a catalyst in a reactor. The catalyst has a first component of molybdenum or tungsten, a second component of vanadium, a third component of iron, cobalt, nickel or palladium and optionally a fourth component of a promoter. The first component forms alcohols, while the vanadium and the third component stimulates carbon chain growth to produce higher alcohols.

Abstract: Higher mixed alcohol formulas can be used as a fuel additive in petroleum-based hydrocarbon liquid fuels, synthetic or bio-derived gasoline, diesel fuels, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, heating oil, bunker oil, coal, petroleum coke, heavy crude oil, bitumen, or as a neat fuel in and of itself. The mixed alcohol formulations can contain a blend of C1-C5 alcohols, with more C3-C5 alcohols than C1-C2 alcohols, or alternatively more C3-C8 alcohols, than C1-C2 alcohols, in order to further boost energy content and reduce emissions.

Abstract: Mixed alcohol formulas can be used as a fuel additive in petroleum-based hydrocarbon liquid fuels, synthetic or bio-derived gasoline, diesel fuels, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, heating oil, bunker oil, coal, petroleum coke, heavy crude oil, bitumen, or as a neat fuel in and of itself. The mixed alcohol formulations can be blended with ground petroleum coke, coal, heavy crude oil, or bitumen to form a thixotropic slurry for ease of transportation. The mixed alcohol formulations can also be used to shurry transport ground biomass. The mixed alcohol formulations can contain a blend of C1-C5 alcohols, or C1-C8 alcohols or higher C1-C10 alcohols in order to further boost energy content.

Abstract: Mixed alcohols are produced from syngas. The syngas is provided to a catalyst in a reactor at selected temperatures and pressures. Reactive products, including mixed alcohols, are removed from the reactor. Non-reactive components are removed from the mixed alcohols of their reaction products. At least part of the non-reactive components are reintroduced in the reactor along with syngas. The non-reactive components are a solvent or a supercritical fluid. The nonreactive components can be reintroduced into the reactor with reactive components such as methanol or CO2.

Abstract: Higher mixed alcohols are produced from syngas contacting a catalyst in a reactor. The catalyst has a first component of molybdenum or tungsten, a second component of vanadium, a third component of iron, cobalt, nickel or palladium and optionally a fourth component of a promoter. The first component forms alcohols, while the vanadium and the third component stimulates carbon chain growth to produce higher alcohols.

Abstract: Mixed alcohol formulas can be used as a fuel additive in petroleum-based hydrocarbon liquid fuels, synthetic or bio-derived gasoline, diesel fuels, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, heating oil, bunker oil, coal, petroleum coke, heavy crude oil, bitumen, or as a neat fuel in and of itself. The mixed alcohol formulations can be blended with ground petroleum coke, coal, heavy crude oil, or bitumen to form a thixotropic slurry for ease of transportation. The mixed alcohol formulations can also be used to shurry transport ground biomass. The mixed alcohol formulations can contain a blend of C1-C5 alcohols, or C1-C8 alcohols or higher C1-C10 alcohols in order to further boost energy content.

Abstract: Mixed alcohol formulas can be used as a fuel additive in petroleum, synthetic or bio-derived gasoline, diesel fuels, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, heating oil, bunker oil, coal, petroleum coke or as a neat fuel in and of itself. The mixed alcohol formulations can also be utilized as a thinning agent to improve the transportation of heavy petroleum crude oils or bitumen produced from tar sands. The mixed alcohol formulations can contain combinations of two or more, three or more alcohols, or blend of C1-C5 alcohols, or C1-C8 alcohols or higher C1-C10 alcohols in order to boost energy content. The primary benefits of mixed alcohols are increased combustion efficiencies, improved fuel economies, reduced emissions profiles and low production costs. These improved combustion efficiencies result in increased miles per gallon of blended fuel.

Abstract: Mixed alcohol formulas can be used as a fuel additive in gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, heating oil, bunker oil, coal, petroleum coke or as a neat fuel in and of itself. The mixed alcohols formulations can contain C1-C5 alcohols, or in the alternative, C1-C8 alcohols or higher C1-C10 alcohols in order to boost energy content. The C1-C5 mixed alcohols contain more ethanol than methanol with declining amounts of propanol, butanol and pentanol. C1-C8 mixed alcohols contain the same, with declining amounts of hexanol, heptanol and octanol. C1-C10 mixed alcohols contain the same, with declining amounts of nananol and decanol. Synthetically produced mixed alcohol formulas feature higher octane and energy densities than either MTBE or fermented grain ethanol; more stable Reid Vapor Pressure blending characteristics; and increased soluablizing effects on condensate water. The primary benefits of mixed alcohols are increased combustion efficiencies, reduced emissions profiles and low production costs.

Abstract: Mixed alcohols can be used as a fuel additive in gasoline, diesel, jet fuel or as a neat fuel in and of itself. The mixed alcohols can contain C1-C5 alcohols, or in the alternative, C1-C8, or higher, alcohols in order to boost energy content. The C1-C5 mixed alcohols contain more ethanol than methanol with amounts of propanol, butanol and pentanol. C1-C8 mixed alcohols contain the same, with amounts of hexanol, heptanol and octanol. A gasoline-based fuel includes gasoline and the mixed alcohols. A diesel based fuel includes diesel and the mixed alcohols. A jet fuel includes kerosene and the mixed alcohols. The neat fuel of the mixed alcohols has an octane number of at least 109 and the Reid Vapor Pressure is no greater than 5 psi. The gross heat of combustion is at least 12,000 BTU's/lb.