Patents by Inventor Douglas C. Elliott
Douglas C. Elliott has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20220372373Abstract: A combined hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and catalytic hydrothermal gasification (CHG) system and process are described that convert various biomass-containing sources into separable bio-oils and aqueous effluents that contain residual organics. Bio-oils may be converted to useful bio-based fuels and other chemical feedstocks. Residual organics in HTL aqueous effluents may be gasified and converted into medium-BTU product gases and directly used for process heating or to provide energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Applicant: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, Gary G. Neuenschwander, Todd R. Hart
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Patent number: 11407946Abstract: A combined hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and catalytic hydrothermal gasification (CHG) system and process are described that convert various biomass-containing sources into separable bio-oils and aqueous effluents that contain residual organics. Bio-oils may be converted to useful bio-based fuels and other chemical feedstocks. Residual organics in HTL aqueous effluents may be gasified and converted into medium-BTU product gases and directly used for process heating or to provide energy.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, Gary G. Neuenschwander, Todd R. Hart
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Publication number: 20190071606Abstract: A combined hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and catalytic hydrothermal gasification (CHG) system and process are described that convert various biomass-containing sources into separable bio-oils and aqueous effluents that contain residual organics. Bio-oils may be converted to useful bio-based fuels and other chemical feedstocks. Residual organics in HTL aqueous effluents may be gasified and converted into medium-BTU product gases and directly used for process heating or to provide energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, Gary G. Neuenschwander, Todd R. Hart
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Patent number: 10167430Abstract: Embodiments of a method for producing bio-oil include hydrothermal liquefaction of a biomass (e.g., a lignocellulosic biomass) feedstock to provide a process stream comprising crude oil and an aqueous fraction. The process stream is catalytically upgraded by contact with a sulfided-ruthenium catalyst, in the absence of added hydrogen, at a temperature and pressure effective to reduce an oxygen content of the crude oil, reduce a nitrogen content of the crude oil, reduce a total acid number of the crude oil, increase a H:C mole ratio of the crude oil, reduce a density of the crude oil, reduce a moisture content of the crude oil, reduce viscosity of the crude oil, or any combination thereof, thereby producing an upgraded oil and an upgraded aqueous fraction, which are subsequently separated. The catalytic upgrading process may be a plug-flow process and/or may be performed at or near liquefaction conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Todd R. Hart, Douglas C. Elliott, Andrew J. Schmidt, Richard T. Hallen
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Patent number: 10138426Abstract: A combined hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and catalytic hydrothermal gasification (CHG) system and process are described that convert various biomass-containing sources into separable bio-oils and aqueous effluents that contain residual organics. Bio-oils may be converted to useful bio-based fuels and other chemical feedstocks. Residual organics in HTL aqueous effluents may be gasified and converted into medium-BTU product gases and directly used for process heating or to provide energy.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, Gary G. Neuenschwander, Todd R. Hart
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Publication number: 20180023003Abstract: A combined hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and catalytic hydrothermal gasification (CHG) system and process are described that convert various biomass-containing sources into separable bio-oils and aqueous effluents that contain residual organics. Bio-oils may be converted to useful bio-based fuels and other chemical feedstocks. Residual organics in HTL aqueous effluents may be gasified and converted into medium-BTU product gases and directly used for process heating or to provide energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2017Publication date: January 25, 2018Applicant: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, Gary G. Neuenschwander, Todd R. Hart
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Publication number: 20170369789Abstract: Embodiments of a method for producing bio-oil include hydrothermal liquefaction of a biomass (e.g., a lignocellulosic biomass) feedstock to provide a process stream comprising crude oil and an aqueous fraction. The process stream is catalytically upgraded by contact with a sulfided-ruthenium catalyst, in the absence of added hydrogen, at a temperature and pressure effective to reduce an oxygen content of the crude oil, reduce a nitrogen content of the crude oil, reduce a total acid number of the crude oil, increase a H:C mole ratio of the crude oil, reduce a density of the crude oil, reduce a moisture content of the crude oil, reduce viscosity of the crude oil, or any combination thereof, thereby producing an upgraded oil and an upgraded aqueous fraction, which are subsequently separated. The catalytic upgrading process may be a plug-flow process and/or may be performed at or near liquefaction conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2016Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Todd R. Hart, Douglas C. Elliott, Andrew J. Schmidt, Richard T. Hallen
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Patent number: 9758728Abstract: A combined hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and catalytic hydrothermal gasification (CHG) system and process are described that convert various biomass-containing sources into separable bio-oils and aqueous effluents that contain residual organics. Bio-oils may be converted to useful bio-based fuels and other chemical feedstocks. Residual organics in HTL aqueous effluents may be gasified and converted into medium-BTU product gases and directly used for process heating or to provide energy.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2013Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, Gary G. Neuenschwander, Todd R. Hart
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Patent number: 9404063Abstract: A system and process are described for clean separation of biocrudes and water by-products from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) product mixtures of organic and biomass-containing feedstocks at elevated temperatures and pressures. Inorganic compound solids are removed prior to separation of biocrude and water by-product fractions to minimize formation of emulsions that impede separation. Separation may be performed at higher temperatures that reduce heat loss and need to cool product mixtures to ambient. The present invention thus achieves separation efficiencies not achieved in conventional HTL processing.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignees: Battelle Memorial Institute, Genifuel CorporationInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, Todd R. Hart, Gary G. Neuenschwander, James R. Oyler, Leslie J. Rotness, Jr., Andrew J. Schmidt, Alan H. Zacher
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Publication number: 20150126758Abstract: A system and process are described for clean separation of biocrudes and water by-products from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) product mixtures of organic and biomass-containing feedstocks at elevated temperatures and pressures. Inorganic compound solids are removed prior to separation of biocrude and water by-product fractions to minimize formation of emulsions that impede separation. Separation may be performed at higher temperatures that reduce heat loss and need to cool product mixtures to ambient. The present invention thus achieves separation efficiencies not achieved in conventional HTL processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Applicants: GENIFUEL CORPORATION, BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTEInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, Todd R. Hart, Gary G. Neuenschwander, James R. Oyler, Leslie J. Rotness, JR., Andrew J. Schmidt, Alan H. Zacher
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Patent number: 8877098Abstract: Processing of wet biomass feedstock by liquid-phase catalytic hydrothermal gasification must address catalyst fouling and poisoning. One solution can involve heating the wet biomass with a heating unit to a pre-treatment temperature sufficient for organic constituents in the feedstock to decompose, for precipitates of inorganic wastes to form, for preheating the wet feedstock in preparation for subsequent removal of soluble sulfate contaminants, or combinations thereof. Processing further includes reacting the soluble sulfate contaminants with cations present in the feedstock material to yield a sulfate-containing precipitate and separating the inorganic precipitates and/or the sulfate-containing precipitates out of the wet feedstock. Having removed much of the inorganic wastes and the sulfate contaminants that can cause poisoning and fouling, the wet biomass feedstock can be exposed to the heterogeneous catalyst for gasification.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignees: Battelle Memorial Institute, Genifuel CorporationInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, James R. Oyler
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Publication number: 20140054507Abstract: Processing of wet biomass feedstock by liquid-phase catalytic hydrothermal gasification must address catalyst fouling and poisoning. One solution can involve heating the wet biomass with a heating unit to a pre-treatment temperature sufficient for organic constituents in the feedstock to decompose, for precipitates of inorganic wastes to form, for preheating the wet feedstock in preparation for subsequent removal of soluble sulfate contaminants, or combinations thereof. Processing further includes reacting the soluble sulfate contaminants with cations present in the feedstock material to yield a sulfate-containing precipitate and separating the inorganic precipitates and/or the sulfate-containing precipitates out of the wet feedstock. Having removed much of the inorganic wastes and the sulfate contaminants that can cause poisoning and fouling, the wet biomass feedstock can be exposed to the heterogeneous catalyst for gasification.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicants: GENIFUEL CORPORATION, BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTEInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, James R. Oyler
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Patent number: 8608981Abstract: Processing of wet biomass feedstock by liquid-phase catalytic hydrothermal gasification must address catalyst fouling and poisoning. One solution can involve heating the wet biomass with a heating unit to a pre-treatment temperature sufficient for organic constituents in the feedstock to decompose, for precipitates of inorganic wastes to form, for preheating the wet feedstock in preparation for subsequent removal of soluble sulfate contaminants, or combinations thereof. Processing further includes reacting the soluble sulfate contaminants with cations present in the feedstock material to yield a sulfate-containing precipitate and separating the inorganic precipitates and/or the sulfate-containing precipitates out of the wet feedstock. Having removed much of the inorganic wastes and the sulfate contaminants that can cause poisoning and fouling, the wet biomass feedstock can be exposed to the heterogeneous catalyst for gasification.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2012Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignees: Battelle Memorial Institute, Genifuel CorporationInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, James Oyler
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Publication number: 20130331623Abstract: A combined hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and catalytic hydrothermal gasification (CHG) system and process are described that convert various biomass-containing sources into separable bio-oils and aqueous effluents that contain residual organics. Bio-oils may be converted to useful bio-based fuels and other chemical feedstocks. Residual organics in HTL aqueous effluents may be gasified and converted into medium-BTU product gases and directly used for process heating or to provide energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTEInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, Gary G. Neuenschwander, Todd R. Hart
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Patent number: 8329969Abstract: A process for the conversion of biomass derived pyrolysis oil to liquid fuel components is presented. The process includes the production of diesel, aviation, and naphtha boiling point range fuels or fuel blending components by two-stage deoxygenation of the pyrolysis oil and separation of the products.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2009Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Michael J. McCall, Timothy A. Brandvold, Douglas C. Elliott
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Publication number: 20120280180Abstract: Processing of wet biomass feedstock by liquid-phase catalytic hydrothermal gasification must address catalyst fouling and poisoning. One solution can involve heating the wet biomass with a heating unit to a pre-treatment temperature sufficient for organic constituents in the feedstock to decompose, for precipitates of inorganic wastes to form, for preheating the wet feedstock in preparation for subsequent removal of soluble sulfate contaminants, or combinations thereof. Processing further includes reacting the soluble sulfate contaminants with cations present in the feedstock material to yield a sulfate-containing precipitate and separating the inorganic precipitates and/or the sulfate-containing precipitates out of the wet feedstock. Having removed much of the inorganic wastes and the sulfate contaminants that can cause poisoning and fouling, the wet biomass feedstock can be exposed to the heterogeneous catalyst for gasification.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTEInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, James R. Oyler
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Patent number: 8241605Abstract: Continuous processing of wet biomass feedstock by catalytic hydrothermal gasification must address catalyst fouling and poisoning. One solution can involve heating the wet biomass with a heating unit to a temperature sufficient for organic constituents in the feedstock to decompose, for precipitates of inorganic wastes to form, for preheating the wet feedstock in preparation for subsequent separation of sulfur contaminants, or combinations thereof. Treatment further includes separating the precipitates out of the wet feedstock, removing sulfur contaminants, or both using a solids separation unit and a sulfur separation unit, respectively. Having removed much of the inorganic wastes and the sulfur that can cause poisoning and fouling, the wet biomass feedstock can be exposed to the heterogeneous catalyst for gasification.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, Robert Scott Butner, Gary G. Neuenschwander, Alan H. Zacher, Todd R. Hart
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Patent number: 8203023Abstract: Novel methods of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis are described. It has been discovered that conducting the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over a catalyst with a catalytically active surface layer of 35 microns or less results in a liquid hydrocarbon product with a high ratio of C5-C20:C20+. Descriptions of novel Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and reactors are also provided. Novel hydrocarbon compositions with a high ratio of C5-C20:C20+ are also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Yong Wang, Chunshe Cao, Xiaohong Shari Li, Douglas C. Elliott
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Patent number: 7956224Abstract: The invention provides palladium-catalyzed hydrogenations of bio-oils and certain organic compounds. Experimental results have shown unexpected and superior results for palladium-catalyzed hydrogenations of organic compounds typically found in bio-oils.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Douglas C. Elliott, Jianli Hu, Todd R. Hart, Gary G. Neuenschwander
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Patent number: 7858667Abstract: Methods for producing alcohols from CO or CO2 and H2 utilizing a palladium-zinc on alumina catalyst are described. Methods of synthesizing alcohols over various catalysts in microchannels are also described. Ethanol, higher alcohols, and other C2+ oxygenates can produced utilizing Rh—Mn or a Fisher-Tropsch catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Jianli Hu, Robert A. Dagle, Jamelyn D. Holladay, Chunshe Cao, Yong Wang, James F. White, Douglas C. Elliott, Don J. Stevens