Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for pretreating municipal solid waste (MSW) and other biomass-containing feedstocks that may be of a poorer quality and consequently more difficult, or even impossible, to convert to higher value liquid products (e.g., transportation fuels) using conventional processes. Such conventional processes may otherwise be satisfactory for the conversion of the biomass portion of the feedstock alone. The pretreatment of biomass-containing feedstocks may generally include steps carried out prior to a hydropyrolysis step and optionally further steps, in order to change one or more characteristics of the feedstock, rendering it more easily upgradable.

Abstract: A biomass-derived thermosetting polymer material being a product of processing a biomass feed material via a twin screw extruder having a length extending between an inlet and an outlet. Hot water from a water heater is injected into at least one inlet along the length of the twin screw extruder, the at least one inlet generally corresponding with a pressure boundary within the twin screw extruder. A pressure-sustaining valve is connected between the length of the twin screw extruder and the outlet, with the valve being adjusted to produce the biomass-derived thermosetting polymer material.

Abstract: A system for the production of carbonized biomass that includes an infeed for accepting biomass feed material and an associated twin screw extruder. A water heater is connected with respect to at least one inlet along a length of the twin screw extruder and a pressure sustaining valve is connected at an outlet of the twin screw extruder.

Abstract: Hydropyrolysis processes are described, in which differing types of feedstocks, including at least one biorenewable feedstock, namely a biomass-containing feedstock, may be co-processed to allow enhancements in operating conditions and/or product properties, depending on changing customer requirements and/or overall market demands. According to specific embodiments, an aliphatic hydrocarbon precursor or an aromatic hydrocarbon precursor is co-processed with the biomass-containing feedstock to enhance an operating condition (e.g., a reactor temperature profile) of the hydropyrolysis process and/or a property (e.g., cetane number) of a liquid product (e.g., a diesel boiling range fraction) obtained from a substantially fully deoxygenated hydrocarbon liquid.

Abstract: A compact, on-demand system to produce high pressure (?5,000 psig) and high temperature (?450° C.) water or other liquids which maintains single-phase flow throughout the system utilizing low-cost, thick-wall tubing and thereby negate the requirement to design the unit as a boiler or adhere to coded pressure vessel design requirements. This design can also replace a conventional boiler for the generation of hot water as well as low and high pressure steam.

Abstract: A hydropyrolysis process comprises feeding both (i) hydrogen and (ii) a biomass-containing feedstock or a biomass-derived feedstock, to a hydropyrolysis reactor vessel. The process comprises producing a CO2-containing vapor stream and at least one liquid product. A CO2 product, separated from the CO2-containing vapor stream, is advantageously used for at least one inertization function of the hydropyrolysis process. Representative inertization functions include operation of solids transport equipment, blanketing of liquid containers, drying of biomass-containing feedstock or biomass-derived feedstock, conveying or separating solids, and combinations thereof. Importantly, CO2 products utilized for these inertization functions may be obtained predominantly, if not completely (depending on the nature of the feedstock), from renewable carbon in biomass.

Abstract: A system for the production of carbonized biomass that includes an infeed for accepting biomass feed material and an associated twin screw extruder. A water heater is connected with respect to at least one inlet along a length of the twin screw extruder and a pressure sustaining valve is connected at an outlet of the twin screw extruder.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for pretreating municipal solid waste (MSW) and other biomass-containing feedstocks that may be of a poorer quality and consequently more difficult, or even impossible, to convert to higher value liquid products (e.g., transportation fuels) using conventional processes. Such conventional processes may otherwise be satisfactory for the conversion of the biomass portion of the feedstock alone. The pretreatment of biomass-containing feedstocks may generally include steps carried out prior to a hydropyrolysis step and optionally further steps, in order to change one or more characteristics of the feedstock, rendering it more easily upgradable.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for pretreating municipal solid waste (MSW) and other biomass-containing feedstocks that may be of a poorer quality and consequently more difficult, or even impossible, to convert to higher value liquid products (e.g., transportation fuels) using conventional processes. Such conventional processes may otherwise be satisfactory for the conversion of the biomass portion of the feedstock alone. The pretreatment of biomass-containing feedstocks may generally include steps carried out prior to a hydropyrolysis step and optionally further steps, in order to change one or more characteristics of the feedstock, rendering it more easily upgradable.

Abstract: A system and method for processing biomass into hydrocarbon fuels that includes processing a biomass in a hydropyrolysis reactor resulting in hydrocarbon fuels and a process vapor stream and cooling the process vapor stream to a condensation temperature resulting in an aqueous stream. The aqueous stream is sent to a catalytic reactor where it is oxidized to obtain a product stream containing ammonia and ammonium sulfate. A resulting cooled product vapor stream includes non-condensable process vapors comprising H2, CH4, CO, CO2, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: A biomass-derived thermosetting polymer material being a product of processing a biomass feed material via a twin screw extruder having a length extending between an inlet and an outlet. Hot water from a water heater is injected into at least one inlet along the length of the twin screw extruder, the at least one inlet generally corresponding with a pressure boundary within the twin screw extruder. A pressure-sustaining valve is connected between the length of the twin screw extruder and the outlet, with the valve being adjusted to produce the biomass-derived thermosetting polymer material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for thermochemically transforming biomass or other oxygenated feedstocks into high quality liquid hydrocarbon fuels. In particular, a catalytic hydropyrolysis reactor, containing a deep bed of fluidized catalyst particles is utilized to accept particles of biomass or other oxygenated feedstocks that are significantly smaller than the particles of catalyst in the fluidized bed. The reactor features an insert or other structure disposed within the reactor vessel that inhibits slugging of the bed and thereby minimizes attrition of the catalyst. Within the bed, the biomass feedstock is converted into a vapor-phase product, containing hydrocarbon molecules and other process vapors, and an entrained solid char product, which is separated from the vapor stream after the vapor stream has been exhausted from the top of the reactor.

Abstract: Hydropyrolysis processes are described, in which differing types of feedstocks, including at least one biorenewable feedstock, namely a biomass-containing feedstock, may be co-processed to allow enhancements in operating conditions and/or product properties, depending on changing customer requirements and/or overall market demands. According to specific embodiments, an aliphatic hydrocarbon precursor or an aromatic hydrocarbon precursor is co-processed with the biomass-containing feedstock to enhance an operating condition (e.g., a reactor temperature profile) of the hydropyrolysis process and/or a property (e.g., cetane number) of a liquid product (e.g., a diesel boiling range fraction) obtained from a substantially fully deoxygenated hydrocarbon liquid.

Abstract: A compact, on-demand system to produce high pressure (?5,000 psig) and high temperature (?450° C.) water or other liquids which maintains single-phase flow throughout the system utilizing low-cost, thick-wall tubing and thereby negate the requirement to design the unit as a boiler or adhere to coded pressure vessel design requirements. This design can also replace a conventional boiler for the generation of hot water as well as low and high pressure steam.

Abstract: A self-sustaining process for producing liquid fuels from biomass in which the biomass is hydropyrolyzed in a reactor vessel containing molecular hydrogen and a deoxygenating catalyst, producing a partially deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid, which is hydrogenated using a hydroconversion catalyst, producing a substantially fully deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid and a gaseous mixture comprising CO and light hydrocarbon gases (C1-C4). The gaseous mixture is reformed in a steam reformer, producing reformed molecular hydrogen, which is then introduced into the reactor vessel for hydropyrolizing the biomass. The deoxygenated liquid product is further processed to produce diesel fuel and gasoline.

Abstract: A hydropyrolysis process comprises feeding both (i) hydrogen and (ii) a biomass-containing feedstock or a biomass-derived feedstock, to a hydropyrolysis reactor vessel. The process comprises producing a CO2-containing vapor stream and at least one liquid product. A CO2 product, separated from the CO2-containing vapor stream, is advantageously used for at least one inertization function of the hydropyrolysis process. Representative inertization functions include operation of solids transport equipment, blanketing of liquid containers, drying of biomass-containing feedstock or biomass-derived feedstock, conveying or separating solids, and combinations thereof. Importantly, CO2 products utilized for these inertization functions may be obtained predominantly, if not completely (depending on the nature of the feedstock), from renewable carbon in biomass.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for pretreating municipal solid waste (MSW) and other biomass-containing feedstocks that may be of a poorer quality and consequently more difficult, or even impossible, to convert to higher value liquid products (e.g., transportation fuels) using conventional processes. Such conventional processes may otherwise be satisfactory for the conversion of the biomass portion of the feedstock alone. The pretreatment of biomass-containing feedstocks may generally include steps carried out prior to a hydropyrolysis step and optionally further steps, in order to change one or more characteristics of the feedstock, rendering it more easily upgradable.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for thermochemically transforming biomass or other oxygenated feedstocks into high quality liquid hydrocarbon fuels. In particular, a catalytic hydropyrolysis reactor, containing a deep bed of fluidized catalyst particles is utilized to accept particles of biomass or other oxygenated feedstocks that are significantly smaller than the particles of catalyst in the fluidized bed. The reactor features an insert or other structure disposed within the reactor vessel that inhibits slugging of the bed and thereby minimizes attrition of the catalyst. Within the bed, the biomass feedstock is converted into a vapor-phase product, containing hydrocarbon molecules and other process vapors, and an entrained solid char product, which is separated from the vapor stream after the vapor stream has been exhausted from the top of the reactor.

Abstract: A system and method for processing biomass into hydrocarbon fuels that includes processing a biomass in a hydropyrolysis reactor resulting in hydrocarbon fuels and a process vapor stream and cooling the process vapor stream to a condensation temperature resulting in an aqueous stream. The aqueous stream is sent to a catalytic reactor where it is oxidized to obtain a product stream containing ammonia and ammonium sulfate. A resulting cooled product vapor stream includes non-condensable process vapors comprising H2, CH4, CO, CO2, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: A multi-stage method and apparatus for producing methane from biomass in which the biomass is hydropyrolyzed in a reactor vessel containing molecular hydrogen and a deoxygenating catalyst, the output of which is hydrogenated using a hydroconversion catalyst. The output from the hydroconversion step is provided to a water-gas-shift process providing a mixture of H2O and product gases including CO2, H2, and methane. The mixture components are separated, resulting in a product stream comprising substantially only methane.