Abstract: A fluid-sparged helical channel reactor can include a constrained flow unit located within a reactor body. The unit has an inner wall and an outer wall which produces a helical constrained flow along a substantially enclosed helical flow path around an axial interior volume. At least part of the outer wall includes a sparging portion to allow fluid reactant to be sparged into the helical constrained flow. A liquid inlet fluidly connected to the reactor body and configured to allow addition of a liquid into the enclosed helical flow path. A sparging fluid inlet is fluidly connected to the reactor body which supplies a sparging fluid to the sparging portion of the constrained-flow unit. A liquid outlet fluidly is connected to the reactor body to allow removal of liquid from the constrained-flow unit. A gas outlet is fluidly associated with the enclosed helical flow path to allow removal of gases from the enclosed helical flow path.

Abstract: A method of reacting compounds can include directing a liquid into a helical constrained flow (37) having an inner circumferential flow surface and an outer circumferential flow surface. The helical constrained flow (37) can be formed around an axial interior volume (38). At least a portion of the helical constrained flow can be exposed to a sparging portion (35) to allow a fluid to be sparged into the liquid along the helical constrained flow (37). The fluid reactant can be sparged through the helical constrained flow so as to form a fluid product.

Abstract: Processes for conversion of lignin to products such as phenolic compounds and biofuels prepared from such phenolic compounds are disclosed and described. A process for conversion of a lignin material to bio-fuels can include subjecting the lignin material to a base catalyzed depolymerization reaction to produce a partially depolymerized lignin. The partially depolymerized lignin can then be subjected to a stabilization/partial hydrodeoxygenation reaction to form a partially hydrodeoxygenated product. Following partial hydrodeoxygenation, the partially hydrodeoxygenated product can be reacted in a hydroprocessing step to form a bio-fuel. Each of these reaction steps can be performed in single or multiple steps, depending on the design of the process. The production of an intermediate partially hydrodeoxygenation product and subsequent reaction thereof can significantly reduce or eliminate reactor plugging and catalyst coking.

Abstract: A method of reacting compounds can include directing a liquid into a helical constrained flow (37) having an inner circumferential flow surface and an outer circumferential flow surface. The helical constrained flow (37) can be formed around an axial interior volume (38). At least a portion of the helical constrained flow can be exposed to a sparging portion (35) to allow a fluid to be sparged into the liquid along the helical constrained flow (37). The fluid reactant can be sparged through the helical constrained flow so as to form a fluid product.

Abstract: Processes for conversion of lignin to products such as phenolic compounds and biofuels prepared from such phenolic compounds are disclosed and described. A process for conversion of a lignin material to bio-fuels can include subjecting the lignin material to a base catalyzed depolymerization reaction to produce a partially depolymerized lignin. The partially depolymerized lignin can then be subjected to a stabilization/partial hydrodeoxygenation reaction to form a partially hydrodeoxygenated product. Following partial hydrodeoxygenation, the partially hydrodeoxygenated product can be reacted in a hydroprocessing step to form a bio-fuel. Each of these reaction steps can be performed in single or multiple steps, depending on the design of the process. The production of an intermediate partially hydrodeoxygenation product and subsequent reaction thereof can significantly reduce or eliminate reactor plugging and catalyst coking.

Abstract: Processes for conversion of lignin to liquid products such as bio-fuels and fuel additives are disclosed and described. A process for conversion of a lignin material to bio-fuels can include subjecting the lignin material to a base catalyzed depolymerization reaction to produce a partially depolymerized lignin. The partially depolymerized lignin can then be subjected to a stabilization/partial hydrodeoxygenation reaction to form a partially hydrodeoxygenated product. Following partial hydrodeoxygenation, the partially hydrodeoxygenated product can be reacted in a hydroprocessing step to form a bio-fuel. Each of these reaction steps can be performed in single or multiple steps, depending on the design of the process. The production of an intermediate partially hydrodeoxygenation product and subsequent reaction thereof can significantly reduce or eliminate reactor plugging and catalyst coking.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing and reacting compounds in a cyclone reactor (10) is disclosed and described. A liquid carrier can be provided which can include solid catalyst particles, liquid catalysts, and/or liquid reactants. The liquid carrier can be formed into a swirl layer (38) within the cyclone reactor (10). A reactant composition including at least one reactant can also be injected through at least a portion of the swirl layer (38) such that at least a portion of the reactant is converted to a reaction product.

Abstract: The invention includes a process for converting biomass into C7-C10 alkylbenzenes useful as blending components for petroleum or petroleum derived fuels. The process includes a base catalyzed depolymerization of lignin within the biomass, followed by hydroprocessing of the depolymerized lignin to C7-C10 alkylbenzenes. The C7-C10 alkylbenzenes are useful for enhancing the octane level of petroleum or petroleum-derived fuels, such as gasoline. In addition, the C7-C10 alkylbenzenes are useful as intermediates in the production of numerous organic chemicals.

Abstract: The invention includes a process for converting biomass into C7-C10 alkylbenzenes useful as blending components for petroleum or petroleum derived fuels. The process includes a base catalyzed depolymerization of lignin within the biomass, followed by hydroprocessing of the depolymerized lignin to C7-C10 alkylbenzenes. The C7-C10 alkylbenzenes are useful for enhancing the octane level of petroleum or petroleum-derived fuels, such as gasoline. In addition, the C7-C10 alkylbenzenes are useful as intermediates in the production of numerous organic chemicals.

Abstract: A high-yield process for converting lignin into reformulated, partially oxygenated gasoline compositions of high quality is provided. The process is a two-stage catalytic reaction process that produces a reformulated, partially oxygenated gasoline product with a controlled amount of aromatics. In the first stage of the process, a lignin feed material is subjected to a base-catalyzed depolymerization reaction, followed by a selective hydrocracking reaction which utilizes a superacid catalyst to produce a high oxygen-content depolymerized lignin product mainly composed of alkylated phenols, alkylated alkoxyphenols, and alkylbenzenes.

Abstract: A process for converting lignin into high-quality reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline compositions in high yields is disclosed. The process is a two-stage, catalytic reaction process that produces a reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline product with a controlled amount of aromatics. In the first stage, a lignin material is subjected to a base-catalyzed depolymerization reaction in the presence of a supercritical alcohol as a reaction medium, to thereby produce a depolymerized lignin product. In the second stage, the depolymerized lignin product is subjected to a sequential two-step hydroprocessing reaction to produce a reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline product. In the first hydroprocessing step, the depolymerized lignin is contacted with a hydrodeoxygenation catalyst to produce a hydrodeoxygenated intermediate product.