Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integrated pyrolysis and gasification of a biomass feed, either as a separate feed or under co-processing conditions. The integrated pyrolysis and gasification can be performed using any convenient reactor configuration, such as fluidized coking reactor configuration or a fluid catalytic cracking reactor configuration. The biomass feed can initially by pyrolyzed to form liquid products, gas phase products, and char. The char can then be used as the input feed to gasification. In aspects where the biomass feed is co-processed, the biomass can be co-processed with a co-feed that is suitable for processing under fluidized coking conditions or other pyrolysis conditions, such as a conventional fluidized coking feedstock.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integration of electrolysis with biomass gasification to generate synthesis gas that can be used for production of renewable fuels and/or other hydrocarbonaceous compounds. The hydrocarbonaceous compounds can include compounds formed by chemical synthesis, such as alkanes formed by a Fischer-Tropsch process or methanol formed by a methanol synthesis process; or the hydrocarbonaceous compounds can include compounds formed by fermentation, such as alcohols formed by micro-organisms that use the synthesis gas as an input feed.

Abstract: Provided herein are various methods for forming alkylaromatic sulfonate compositions and blended alkylaromatic sulfonate compositions, and such compositions themselves. The methods of various embodiments include obtaining a C8-C30 hydrocarbon mixture, optionally treating the mixture to concentrate the mixture in sulfonatable aromatics, and sulfonating the mixture to form the alkylaromatic sulfonates. The mixture or treated mixture may be blended with linear alkyl benzene (LAB) compositions and sulfonated, and/or the alkylaryl sulfonates may be blended with linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) compositions, to form the blended alkylaromatic sulfonates of some embodiments. These compositions and processes for making them may be tailored to serve a variety of end uses, such as detergents in cleaning solutions or for enhanced oil recovery operations, and/or as low foaming and/or hydrotropic additives in detergent formulations, and the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming alkylate from an isoparaffin-containing feed. Olefins for the alkylation reaction can be generated from a portion of the isoparaffin-containing feed. This can be achieved, for example, by using selective oxidation to convert a portion of isoparaffins into alcohol, such as conversion of isobutane to t-butyl alcohol. The alcohol can then be converted to an alkene, such as conversion of t-butyl alcohol to isobutene, in the alkylation reaction environment in the presence of a solid acid catalyst. The solid acid catalyst can then facilitate alkylation of isoparaffin using the in-situ formed alkenes. A catalyst having an MWW framework is an example of a suitable solid acid catalyst.

Abstract: Methods and systems producing gasoline boiling range hydrocarbons from light paraffins are disclosed. Such methods may include exposing a paraffin-containing stream to a catalyst in a side riser of a fluid catalytic cracking reactor under effective conditions for dehydrogenating at least a portion of paraffins in the stream into olefins and thereby producing an olefin-containing stream, wherein the paraffin-containing stream comprises greater than 50 wt % isobutane; and alkylating olefins in the olefin-containing stream to produce a product stream comprising an alkylate fraction comprising hydrocarbons boiling between 100° F. and 400° F.

Abstract: Methods and systems producing gasoline boiling range hydrocarbons from light paraffins are disclosed. Such methods may include exposing a paraffin-containing stream to a catalyst in a side riser of a fluid catalytic cracking reactor under effective conditions for dehydrogenating at least a portion of paraffins in the stream into olefins and thereby producing an olefin-containing stream, wherein the paraffin-containing stream comprises greater than 50 wt % isobutane; and alkylating olefins in the olefin-containing stream to produce a product stream comprising an alkylate fraction comprising hydrocarbons boiling between 100° F. and 400° F.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming alkylate from an isoparaffin-containing feed. Olefins for the alkylation reaction can be generated from a portion of the isoparaffin-containing feed. This can be achieved, for example, by using selective oxidation to convert a portion of isoparaffins into alcohol, such as conversion of isobutane to t-butyl alcohol. The alcohol can then be converted to an alkene, such as conversion of t-butyl alcohol to isobutene, in the alkylation reaction environment in the presence of a solid acid catalyst. The solid acid catalyst can then facilitate alkylation of isoparaffin using the in-situ formed alkenes. A catalyst having an MWW framework is an example of a suitable solid acid catalyst.

Abstract: Provided herein are various methods for forming alkylaromatic sulfonate compositions and blended alkylaromatic sulfonate compositions, and such compositions themselves. The methods of various embodiments include obtaining a C8-C30 hydrocarbon mixture, optionally treating the mixture to concentrate the mixture in sulfonatable aromatics, and sulfonating the mixture to form the alkylaromatic sulfonates. The mixture or treated mixture may be blended with linear alkyl benzene (LAB) compositions and sulfonated, and/or the alkylaryl sulfonates may be blended with linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) compositions, to form the blended alkylaromatic sulfonates of some embodiments. These compositions and processes for making them may be tailored to serve a variety of end uses, such as detergents in cleaning solutions or for enhanced oil recovery operations, and/or as low foaming and/or hydrotropic additives in detergent formulations, and the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing the integration of processes for recovering products from algae-derived biomass. The enhanced process integration allows for increased use of input streams and other reagents that are derived from renewable sources. This increases the overall renewable character of the products extracted from the algae-derived biomass. The process integration can include exchange of input streams or energy between an algae processing system and a system for processing non-algal biomass. One example of improving process integration is using oxygenates that are generated in a renewable manner as a reagent for enhancing the algae processing system.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for desulfurizing hydrocarbon feedstreams with alkali metal compounds and regenerating the alkali metal compounds via the use of a copper sulfide reagent. The present invention employs the use of a copper sulfide reagent to convert alkali metal hydrosulfides in the generation or regeneration of the alkali hydroxide compounds which may be utilized in a desulfurization process for hydrocarbon feedstreams. Additionally, in preferred embodiments of the processes disclosed herein, carbonates which form as byproducts of the desulfurization process, and are non-regenerable with copper sulfide, are removed from the alkali hydroxide stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing the integration of processes for recovering products from algae-derived biomass. The enhanced process integration allows for increased use of input streams and other reagents that are derived from renewable sources. This increases the overall renewable character of the products extracted from the algae-derived biomass. The process integration can include exchange of input streams or energy between an algae processing system and a system for processing non-algal biomass. One example of improving process integration is using oxygenates that are generated in a renewable manner as a reagent for enhancing the algae processing system.

Abstract: A solids supply system having a solids deaeration zone and a solids pump zone, and a method for supplying the solids e.g., pulverized dry coal, to an application, e.g., gasification process. The solids deaeration zone includes a container having a passageway defined by one or more sloped walls. The solids deaeration zone is operable to deaerate and convey the solids to the solids pump zone. In the solids deaeration zone, the solids become sufficiently compacted prior to and upon entry into the solids pump zone to be effectively conveyed through the solids pump zone.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for separating solute material from an algal cell feed stream. The algal cell feed stream, which contains the solute material, can be introduced into on portion of a mixer-settler vessel, and a solvent feed stream can be introduced into another portion of the vessel to mix with the algal cell feed stream, with a goal of separating at least a portion of the solute material from the algal feed stream.

Abstract: A solids supply systems having a solids deaeration zone and a solids pump zone, and to methods for supplying the solids e.g., pulverized dry coal, to an application, e.g., gasification process. The solids deaeration zone includes a roller system containing a plurality of porous roller assemblies, or a belt system containing a plurality of porous belt assemblies. The solids deaeration zone is operable to deaerate and convey the solids to the solids pump zone. In the solids deaeration zone, the solids become sufficiently compacted prior to and upon entry into the solids pump zone to be effectively conveyed through the solids pump zone.

Abstract: Biomass based feeds are processed under hydrothermal treatment conditions, e.g., to produce a hydrocarbon liquid product and a solids portion. The hydrothermal treatment is performed in the presence of a dissolved catalyst or catalyst precursor. The presence of the dissolved catalyst or catalyst precursor can modify the nature of the hydrocarbon products produced from the hydrothermal treatment.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstreams are desulfurized using an alkali metal reagent, optionally in the presence of hydrogen. Improved control over reaction conditions can be achieved in part by controlling the particle size of the alkali metal salt and by using multiple desulfurization reactors. After separation of the spent alkali metal reagent, the resulting product can have suitable characteristics for pipeline transport and/or further refinery processing.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for desulfurizing hydrocarbon feedstreams with alkali metal compounds and regenerating the alkali metal compounds via the use of a transition metal oxide. The present invention employs the use of a transition metal oxide, preferably copper oxide, in order to convert spent alkali metal hydrosulfides in the regeneration of the alkali hydroxide compounds for reutilization in the desulfurization process for the hydrocarbon feedstreams. Additionally, in preferred embodiments of the processes disclosed herein, carbonates which may be detrimental to the overall desulfurization process and related equipment are removed from the regenerated alkali metal stream.

Abstract: Biomass based feeds are processed under hydrothermal treatment conditions to produce a hydrocarbon liquid product and a solids portion. The solids portion can contain a portion of the phosphorus from the biomass feed. The amount of phosphorus in the solids portion can be increased for some biomass feeds by adding a multivalent metal to the feed. The phosphorus from the solids portion can be recycled for further use, such as for growth of additional biomass.

Abstract: Biomass based feeds are processed under hydrothermal treatment conditions, e.g., to produce a hydrocarbon liquid product and a solids portion. The hydrothermal treatment can be performed in the presence of heterogeneous catalyst particles that can optionally include a catalyst metal or metal salt. The presence of the heterogeneous catalyst can modify the nature of the hydrocarbon products produced from the hydrothermal treatment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing the integration of processes for recovering products from algae-derived biomass. The enhanced process integration allows for increased use of input streams and other reagents that are derived from renewable sources. This increases the overall renewable character of the products extracted from the algae-derived biomass. The process integration can include exchange of input streams or energy between an algae processing system and a system for processing non-algal biomass. One example of improving process integration is using oxygenates that are generated in a renewable manner as a reagent for enhancing the algae processing system.