Abstract: A redox flow battery (RFB) system with a low-cost online turbidity sensor to detect the early stages of electrolyte precipitate formation is described. The inline turbidity sensor can be used in either absorption or scattering mode. The RFB system may optionally include an RGB color sensor to monitor the charge-discharge cycles by detecting color change in the electrolyte.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing jet-range hydrocarbons are disclosed herein. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for producing jet-range hydrocarbons includes the steps of combining a first stream including C4 olefinic hydrocarbons and a second stream including C5-C8 olefinic hydrocarbons to produce a third stream including C4-C8 hydrocarbons, oligomerizing the third stream including C4-C8 olefinic hydrocarbons to produce a fourth stream including C4-C20 olefinic hydrocarbons, and separating C5-C8 hydrocarbons from the fourth stream including C4-C20 olefinic hydrocarbons to produce the second stream including C5-C8 olefinic hydrocarbons and a fifth stream including C9-C20 olefinic hydrocarbons. The method further includes the step of hydrogenating the fifth stream including C9-C20 olefinic hydrocarbons to produce a sixth stream including C9-C20 paraffinic jet-range hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing jet-range hydrocarbons are disclosed herein. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for producing jet-range hydrocarbons includes the steps of combining a first stream including C4 olefinic hydrocarbons and a second stream including C5-C8 olefinic hydrocarbons to produce a third stream including C4-C8 hydrocarbons, oligomerizing the third stream including C4-C8 olefinic hydrocarbons to produce a fourth stream including C4-C20 olefinic hydrocarbons, and separating C5-C8 hydrocarbons from the fourth stream including C4-C20 olefinic hydrocarbons to produce the second stream including C5-C8 olefinic hydrocarbons and a fifth stream including C9-C20 olefinic hydrocarbons. The method further includes the step of hydrogenating the fifth stream including C9-C20 olefinic hydrocarbons to produce a sixth stream including C9-C20 paraffinic jet-range hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method for producing a linear alkylbenzene product from a bio-renewable feedstock having a mixture of naturally-derived hydrocarbons includes separating the mixture of naturally-derived hydrocarbons into a naphtha portion and a distillate portion, reforming the naphtha portion, and using a high purity aromatics recovery process on the reformed naphtha portion to produce benzene. The method further includes separating a normal paraffins portion from the distillate portion and dehydrogenating the normal paraffins portion to produce mono-olefins. Still further, the method includes reacting the benzene and the mono-olefins to produce the linear alkylbenzene product.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating a fuel are provided. In one embodiment, a method of evaluating a fuel includes providing a testing specimen of the fuel. Also, the method includes analyzing the testing specimen and identifying a compound in the testing specimen. The method also provides for determining the fuel is biologically-sourced based on the identified trace compound.

Abstract: A process for controlling the simultaneous production of hydrocarbons with boiling points in both the diesel fuel range and the aviation fuel range from renewable feedstocks originating from plants or animals other than petroleum feedstocks is described. The hydrocarbon product can be adjusted by changing the feedstocks without requiring different process equipment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for preparing normal paraffins and hydrocarbon product streams are provided herein. A method of preparing normal paraffins includes providing an unsaturated feed that includes an unsaturated compound that has at least one alkenyl group. The unsaturated feed is epoxidized to convert the at least one alkenyl group in the unsaturated compound to an epoxide functional group, thereby converting the unsaturated compound to an epoxide compound that has at least one epoxide functional group. The at least one epoxide functional group in the epoxide compound is converted to at least one secondary hydroxyl functional group, thereby converting the epoxide compound to a hydroxyl-functional compound that has at least one hydroxyl functional group. The hydroxyl-functional compound is deoxygenated to form normal paraffins.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for preparing normal paraffins and hydrocarbon product streams are provided herein. A method of preparing normal paraffins includes providing an unsaturated feed that includes an unsaturated compound that has at least one alkenyl group. The unsaturated feed is epoxidized to convert the at least one alkenyl group in the unsaturated compound to an epoxide functional group, thereby converting the unsaturated compound to an epoxide compound that has at least one epoxide functional group. The at least one epoxide functional group in the epoxide compound is converted to at least one secondary hydroxyl functional group, thereby converting the epoxide compound to a hydroxyl-functional compound that has at least one hydroxyl functional group. The hydroxyl-functional compound is deoxygenated to form normal paraffins.

Abstract: A process has been developed for producing aviation fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and animal fats and oils. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide n-paraffins having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms. At least some of the n-paraffins are isomerized to improve cold flow properties. At least a portion of the paraffins are selectively cracked to provide paraffins meeting specifications for different aviation fuels such as JP-8.

Abstract: Methods of making synthetic distillate fuel are described. The methods involve the use of an absorbent bed of molecular sieves which adsorb the n-paraffins from a distillate fuel cut. This allows the distillate fuel true boiling point cut point on the distillation column to increase to a higher temperature to make a distillate fuel which meets all of the synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) or synthetic diesel specifications on distillation as well as the cold flow property specification, such as freeze point for SPK or cloud point, cold filter plugging point and pour point for synthetic diesel. This approach could improve aviation fuel yields by about 5 to about 10% and synthetic diesel yields up to 20%.

Abstract: A method for producing a linear alkylbenzene product from a bio-renewable feedstock having a mixture of naturally-derived hydrocarbons includes separating the mixture of naturally-derived hydrocarbons into a naphtha portion and a distillate portion, reforming the naphtha portion, and using a high purity aromatics recovery process on the reformed naphtha portion to produce benzene. The method further includes separating a normal paraffins portion from the distillate portion and dehydrogenating the normal paraffins portion to produce mono-olefins. Still further, the method includes reacting the benzene and the mono-olefins to produce the linear alkylbenzene product.

Abstract: A process for controlling the simultaneous production of hydrocarbons with boiling points in both the diesel fuel range and the aviation fuel range from renewable feedstocks originating from plants or animals other than petroleum feedstocks is described. The hydrocarbon product can be adjusted by changing the feedstocks without requiring different process equipment.

Abstract: A process for producing a fuel or fuel blending component from co-processing at least two different classes of renewable feedstocks, is presented. One feedstock comprises glycerides and free fatty acids in feedstocks such as plant and animal oils while the other feedstock comprises biomass derived pyrolysis oil. The source of the animal or plant oil and the biomass may be the same renewable source.

Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel fuel from crude tall oil. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a diesel boiling range fuel hydrocarbon product. If desired, the hydrocarbon product can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrocarbon product is recycled to the treatment zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating a fuel are provided. In one embodiment, a method of evaluating a fuel includes providing a testing specimen of the fuel. Also, the method includes analyzing the testing specimen and identifying a compound in the testing specimen. The method also provides for determining the fuel is biologically-sourced based on the identified trace compound.

Abstract: A process for producing at least one blended fuel from a paraffin rich component and a cyclic rich component, where each of the components are generated from a renewable feedstock, is presented. The paraffin rich component is generated from glycerides and free fatty acids in feedstocks such as plant and animal oils. The cyclic rich component is generated from biomass derived pyrolysis oil. The source of the animal or plant oil and the biomass may be the same renewable source.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A process for producing a blended fuel from a paraffin rich component and a cyclic rich component, where each of the components are generated from a renewable feedstock, is presented. The paraffin rich component is generated from glycerides and free fatty acids in feedstocks such as plant and animal oils. The cyclic rich component is generated from biomass derived pyrolysis oil. The source of the animal or plant oil and the biomass may be the same renewable source.

Abstract: A process for producing at least one blended fuel from a paraffin rich component and a cyclic rich component, where each of the components are generated from a renewable feedstock, is presented. The paraffin rich component is generated from glycerides and free fatty acids in feedstocks such as plant and animal oils. The cyclic rich component is generated from biomass derived pyrolysis oil. The source of the animal or plant oil and the biomass may be the same renewable source.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of organic chemical feedstocks from biooil is presented. The process comprises separating the water soluble chemicals from biomass and recovering the primarily oxygenate compounds for use as feedstocks.