Abstract: A process for the conversion of biomass to hydrocarbon products such as transportation fuels, kerosene, diesel oil, fuel oil, chemical and refinery plant feeds. The instant process uses a hydrocarbon or synthesis gas co-feed and hot pressurized water to convert the biomass in a manner commonly referred to as hydrothermal liquefaction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming a low-metal biomass-derived pyrolysis oil are provided. In an embodiment, a method for forming a low-metal biomass-derived pyrolysis oil includes washing biomass comprising a water-soluble metal component therein with wash water that is substantially free of water-soluble metals. The washed biomass and water containing water-soluble metal are separated after washing the biomass. The washed biomass is pyrolyzed in a pyrolysis process to form a pyrolysis vapor stream. A portion of the pyrolysis vapor stream is condensed to form a condensate. The wash water is derived from the washed biomass. In an embodiment of an apparatus, the apparatus comprises a washing stage, a biomass dryer, a pyrolysis reactor, a quenching system comprising a primary condenser and a secondary condenser, and a return line that connects the quenching system to the washing stage.

Abstract: A biomass pyrolysis product is quenched by direct cooling with a cold quench fluid and initial product separation is performed based on boiling point and solubility in the quench fluid. A properly chosen quench fluid may act as a selective solvent, thus providing dilution of unstable precursors of pyrolytic lignin or other heavy by-products, and/or separation of certain undesirable pyrolysis oil components such as water and light acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated process, which comprises a single cell oil production process, and a pulp and/or paper industry process. The process comprises that in the single cell oil production process is used a microorganism capable of producing lipids or lipids and enzymes when cultivated on a medium comprising organic material from pulp and/or paper industry. Lipids or lipids and enzymes are produced by said microorganisms in the single cell oil production process and/or in a process connected into it. The present invention relates also to use of lipids produced in the process as biofuel or as a component of biofuel or as a starting material for biofuel production and use of enzymes produced in the lipid production process in pulp and/or paper industry or in other applications as an enzyme preparation or as a source of enzymes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic material by thermal hydrolysis, in particular with a view to producing bioethenol, wherein the material is first admixed with water and is then passed to a reactor, in which the soaked material is subjected to a high temperature and a high pressure to such an extent that is it accessible for a subsequent treatment with enzymes, following which the treated material is separated into liquid part and a solid part, where the solid component is subsequently used for the production of bioethenol and enzymation and fermentation. Exclusively steam is used in the method and the corresponding system for heating, stirring and transport, as e.g. the transport through the various elements of the system is provided by a pressure difference between the compartments of the elements. The material (32) is discharged to an economizer (4), in which a separator (5) separates the material into a solid part and a liquid part.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to methods of generating cellulosic-renewable identification numbers by thermally processing a cellulosic biomass to form a renewable fuel oil, and then co-processing the renewable fuel oil with a petroleum fraction in a refinery to form a cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel.

Abstract: A method of producing fatty acid esters in situ from microbial biomass such as algae is provided by treating microbial biomass with a solution containing an alcohol and at least one ?-hydroxysulfonic acid. Fatty acid ester can be directly recovered from the treated microbial biomass. The ?-hydroxysulfonic acid can be easily removed from the treated microbial biomass and recycled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining properties of hydrocarbonaceous samples including a component prepared from: 1) the thermo-catalytic conversion of biomass, or 2) the pyrolytic conversion of biomass with subsequent upgrading. The determination of the property(ies) is by use of a near-infrared spectra based correlation.

Abstract: A system is described that includes a pyrolyzer and a primary condenser. The primary condenser is coupled to the pyrolyzer and includes an input to receive pyrolytic vapors from the pyrolyzer and a solvent. The condenser is further configured to condense the pyrolytic vapors by contacting the pyrolytic vapors with the solvent to form a condensed liquid that exits the primary condenser via an output. A capture vessel receives the condensed liquid from the condenser output. A recirculator couples the capture vessel to the primary condenser input and is configured to receive the condensed liquid from the primary condenser, and to provide at least a portion of the condensed liquid as the solvent in the primary condenser. The solvent from the bio-oil component/solvent mixture is then extracted in a solvent extraction system and returned to the quenching system.

Abstract: A biomass processing method including: feeding biomass to an upper reactor inlet; adding liquor to the biomass to create a liquid level below an upper biomass level; treating the biomass; discharging the treated biomass from a bottom reactor outlet; as the biomass flows downward from the biomass upper level to the bottom outlet, moving the biomass between a plurality of pairs of support plates, wherein (i) the pairs of support plates are arranged at different elevations, (ii) the plates of each pair are mounted to sidewalls at a slope with respect to the sidewall that converges the plate inwardly towards an opposite plate along a downward direction, and (iii) each pair of plates converges along a single direction; increasing biomass compaction as the biomass flows between each pair of plates; rapidly releasing compressive forces on the biomass as the biomass flows pass lower edges on each pair of support plates.

Abstract: Renewable fuels are produced in commercial quantities and with enhanced efficiency by integrating a bio-oil production system with a conventional petroleum refinery so that the bio-oil is co-processed with a petroleum-derived stream in the refinery. The techniques used to integrate the bio-oil production system and conventional petroleum refineries are selected based on the quality of the bio-oil and the desired product slate from the refinery.

Abstract: Water may be removed from a biofuel or biofuel intermediate by using a demulsifier. The demulsifier includes the product of oxyalkylating a resin prepared from a formulation including a phenol and a compound selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde, a diamine a polyamine and mixtures thereof. The demulsifier may also be used with admixtures of biofuels, biofuel intermediates, or biofuel feedstocks with conventional hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method for upgrading pyrolysis oil into a hydrocarbon fuel involves obtaining a quantity of pyrolysis oil, separating the pyrolysis oil into an organic phase and an aqueous phase, and then upgrading the organic phase into a hydrocarbon fuel by reacting the organic phase with hydrogen gas using a catalyst. The catalyst used in the reaction includes a support material, an active metal and a zirconia promoter material. The support material may be alumina, silica gel, carbon, silicalite or a zeolite material. The active metal may be copper, iron, nickel or cobalt. The zirconia promoter material may be zirconia itself, zirconia doped with Y, zirconia doped with Sc and zirconia doped with Yb.

Abstract: An emulsifier for a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion fuel wherein reseparation between oil and water does not take place for a long period of time because of a stable emulsion state with homogenous dispersion. The emulsifier for a water-in-oil emulsion fuel includes the following (1) to (7) components: (1) heavy oil A: 50 mL or more 100 mL, (2) heavy oil B: 100 mL or more 200 mL, (3) heavy oil C: 300 mL or more 450 mL, (4) methanol: 100 mL or more 150 mL, (5) ethanol: 100 mL or more 200 mL, (6) palm oil: 100 mL or more 150 mL, and (7) water: 100 mL or more 200 mL.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and processes for the recovery of oleaginous compounds from biomass and in particular biomass comprises photosynthetic microorganisms. Also disclosure are oleaginous compounds obtained using the disclosed methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing an isolated biofuel and a purified protein product from a raw material suitable for the production of the biofuel or a derivative of said raw material. The method comprises the steps of: (i) subjecting the raw material or a derivative of said raw material to at least one first treatment liberating the biofuel from the raw material or the derivative of said raw material, (ii) isolating the biofuel liberated in step (i) obtaining the isolated biofuel, (iii) subjecting the raw material or a derivative of said raw material to at least one second treatment providing a material suspension, and (iv) subjecting the material suspension from step (iii) to an expanded bed adsorption process obtaining the purified protein product.

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: The invention relates to the field of culturing algae and use of algae-derived products. The invention also relates to the reduction of CO2 emission. More in particular the invention relates to combining the capture and conversion of CO2 from flue gas or biogas and the growth of algae. The invention provides a method for advantageously combining reduction of CO2 emission with algal growth.

Abstract: This invention provides the market with low-cost retrieval of valuable used cooking oil to customer distribution centers, where a mobile production unit visits to create biodiesel fuel, which can be immediately used by customers to fuel their fleet. In some variations, a method comprises identifying a network of customer distribution centers, collecting used cooking oil transported from users to customer distribution centers, providing a mobile reactor to convert used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel under effective reaction conditions, producing biodiesel fuel on-site at the customer distribution centers, and introducing the biodiesel fuel, directly or via a fuel blend, into fleet vehicles. Related systems and apparatus are also disclosed. This invention provides a clean source of energy from waste, a lower-cost alternatives to petroleum-derived diesel fuel, and improved environmental footprints including lower fuel use and lower total carbon emissions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid bio-fuel mixture comprising: a liquid condensate product of bio-mass fast pyrolysis; a bio-diesel component; and an alcohol component. The liquid bio-fuel mixture is macroscopically single phase. The alcohol component is selected from methanol, a C3 to C10 alcohol, and a mixture of two or more different C1 to C10 alcohols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing enzymes and single cell oil. The process comprises that microorganisms capable of producing both single cell oil and enzymes are cultivated under conditions suitable for single cell oil production and enzyme production in a single cell oil production process. A microorganism culture comprising single cell oil and enzymes is obtained and at least part of the microorganism culture, of the supernatant and/or microorganism cells separated from the microorganism culture, of protein fraction enriched from the supernatant, and/or of protein fraction obtained from the cells is used as an enzyme preparation or as a source of enzymes. Single cell oil is recovered from the microorganism cells and used as biofuel, component of biofuel or as a starting material for biofuel production. Enzymes produced according to the process are used in the same or in another industrial process.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions comprising fluid hydrocarbon products, and to methods for making fluid hydrocarbon products via catalytic pyrolysis. Some embodiments relate to methods for the production of specific aromatic products (e.g., benzene, toluene, naphthalene, xylene, etc.) via catalytic pyrolysis. Some such methods involve the use of a composition comprising a mixture of a solid hydrocarbonaceous material and a heterogeneous pyrolytic catalyst component. The methods described herein may also involve the use of specialized catalysts. For example, in some cases, zeolite catalysts may be used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of diesel range hydrocarbons wherein a feed is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating step and isomerized in an isomerization step, and a feed comprising fresh feed containing more than 5 wt % of free fatty acids and at least one diluting agent is hydrotreated at a reaction temperature of 200-400° C., in a hydrotreating reactor in the presence of catalyst, and the ratio of the diluting agent/fresh feed is 5-30:1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for thermochemically converting organic waste material having high molecular weight into liquid combustible materials and fuels, comprising the following steps: feeding organic waste material into a reactor, heating the organic waste material to a temperature between 250° C. and 500° C. while avoiding exceeding critical coking temperatures in the reactor, feeding biogenic substances to the reactor, collecting and condensing the gases and vapors released from the mixture of organic waste material and biogenic substances, collecting the condensate and letting phases form, and removing the phase(s) containing liquid combustible materials and fuels.

Abstract: The present invention provides non-petroleum high-octane fuel which may be derived from biomass sources, and a method of producing same. The method of production involves reducing the biomass feedstocks to sugars, fermenting the sugars using microorganisms or mutagens thereof to produce ethanol or acetic acid, converting the acetic acid or ethanol to acetone, and converting the acetone to mesitylene and isopentane, the major components of the engine fuel. Trimerization of acetone can be carried out in the presence of a catalyst containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of niobium, iron and manganese. The ethanol can be converted to mesitylene in a dehydration reaction in the presence of a catalyst of zinc oxide/calcium oxide, and unreacted ethanol and water separated from mesitylene by distillation.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a renewable energy fuel is prepared by a process including the steps of: a) providing a renewable energy feedstock; b) providing an alcohol; c) providing a catalyst; d) mixing (a), (b), and (c) to form a blend; and e) homogenizing the blend at a pressure greater than 400 kilogram-force per square centimeter (Kg/cm2).

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and/or feedstock suitable for use in biofuels production, as well as biofuel compositions. A method of producing a biofuel includes hydroprocessing glycerides derived from an oleaginous microorganism and composed of at least 10% by weight of fatty acid chains of length C16 or lower, and producing a biofuel having a cold-flow pour point of about 20° Celsius or lower.

Abstract: A method for recovering lipids from microbial biomass, the method including providing wet microbial biomass which contains lipids to extraction without disrupting the biomass cell walls, and subsequently, extracting the wet microbial biomass with a liquid extractant at elevated temperature of at least 170° C. and elevated pressure. The combination of the temperature and pressure is such that the lipids in the cells are contacted with the extractant. Subsequently the extracted lipids are recovered from or with the extractant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a photosynthetic product, the method comprising maintaining a photosynthetic plant or algal cell suspension culture, in the presence of water, light and a carbonic acid-enriched growth medium. The carbonic acid may, for example be provided by feeding the photosynthetic plant cell suspension culture with a carbonic acid solution, a solid or liquid precursor thereof, or a gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide and one or more other gases. The invention also provides a method for producing a photosynthetic product, the method comprising maintaining a photosynthetic plant or algal cell suspension culture, in the presence of water, light and a carbon source selected from carbon dioxide and carbonic acid, wherein the culture is maintained at a pH of less than 7.0, preferably 4.5 to 5.5.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present application discloses methods to selectively synthesize higher alcohols and hydrocarbons useful as fuels and industrial chemicals from syngas and biomass. Ketene and ketonization chemistry along with hydrogenation reactions are used to synthesize fuels and chemicals. In another embodiment, ketene used to form fuels and chemicals may be manufactured from acetic acid which in turn can be synthesized from synthesis gas which is produced from coal, biomass, natural gas, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of producing biological products or increasing production of such products through expression in a plant of a bacterial or plant glycolate catabolic cycle gene, such as glycolate dehydrogenease (GDH), glycolate oxidase (GO), or malate synthase (MS) in combination with a plant gene, such as farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS), squalene synthase (SQS), or PLAS. Also provided are plants, plants parts and compositions produced through methods of the present invention. The invention leads to two to five fold increase of end product yield.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward compositions suitable for use as dielectric fluids, lubricant fluids and biodiesel fluids. Compositions described herein are obtained from a saturated, unsaturated or combinations of both monol, diol, triol or polyol acyl ester based fluid and/or a non-ester based fluid and 2,4,6-tris(di-C1-C6-alkylaminomethyl) phenol and/or the carboxylic acid salt of 2,4,6-tris(di-C1-C6-alkylaminomethyl) phenol. These compositions demonstrate improved oxidative stability and/or hydrolytic stability at higher use temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing industrial products such as hydrocarbon products from non-polar lipids in a vegetative plant part. Preferred industrial products include alkyl esters which may be blended with petroleum based fuels.

Abstract: Integrating a biomass pyrolysis and upgrading process into a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The process uses conventional FCC feed and a mixture of a solvent and biomass to produce upgraded fuel products. A slurry stream composed of solid biomass particles and a solvent is fed into an FCC riser through a slurry pump to achieve biomass pyrolysis and in situ pyrolysis oil upgrading. The catalytic cracking of the conventional petroleum feed also occurs in the riser.

Abstract: Crude algae oils produced by practical extraction techniques comprise a wide range of molecular species that can be characterized by advanced analytical techniques. The algae oils comprise a complex mixture of a large number of molecules having varying sizes and therefore varying boiling points, and comprise high nitrogen, oxygen, and fatty acid content, but low sulfur, saturated hydrocarbons, and triglyceride content. Hydrogen/carbon molar ratios are typically greater than 1.6. The wide range of molecular species in the crude algae oils, while unusual compared to conventional refinery feed stocks and vegetable oils, may be upgraded into fuels by conventional refining approaches such as hydrotreating and thermal treatment. Unusual behavior of the algae oils in thermal processing and/or hydrotreatment may provide a high quality product slate, with the flexibility to adjust the product slate due to enhanced cracking behavior exhibited by these algae oils.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering of oil from plant seeds characterized in that a) an aqueous solution containing one or more cellulolytic and/or lipolytic and/or pectinolytic and/or proteolytic enzyme(s) and/or phytase is sprayed onto the seed, b) the thus obtained seed is directly supplied to a one-stage or multistage pressing in a way known per se, optionally coupled to an extraction, and c) the oil is recovered in a way known per se and optionally further processed, and the use of the method, particularly in the production of edible oil or biodiesel.

Abstract: For producing a liquefied material from a glycerin-based solid material, a glycerin-based solid material is allowed to be efficiently liquefied to produce a liquefied material that can be used as, for example, a fuel or the like. A glycerin-based solid material, such as a glycerin-based solid material produced as a byproduct in the production of a biodiesel fuel from a plant oil, is mixed with at least one oil selected from the group consisting of a mineral oil, an animal oil, and a plant oil; and an acid to produce a liquefied material, the acid being mixed in such that the pH of the liquefied material is 3 to 12.

Abstract: Processes for thermal conversion of biomass are provided. The processes involve upgrading the pyrolysis vapor from a pyrolysis reactor. The steps include thermally converting a biomass feedstock in a pyrolysis reactor, recovering a pyrolysis vapor from the reactor, passing the pyrolysis vapor in contact with a cracking catalyst, a water-gas shift reaction catalyst, a hydrotreating catalyst, and an acid catalyst, and converting the resulting upgraded pyrolysis vapor into a liquid product. The resulting biooil liquid product is more refined, and the overall processes offer economic and energy efficiency.

Abstract: Processes for thermal conversion of biomass are provided. The processes involve upgrading the pyrolysis vapor from a pyrolysis reactor. The steps include thermally converting a biomass feedstock in a pyrolysis reactor, recovering a pyrolysis vapor from the reactor, passing the pyrolysis vapor in contact with a cracking catalyst, a water-gas shift reaction catalyst, and a hydrotreating catalyst, and converting the resulting upgraded pyrolysis vapor into a liquid product. The resulting biooil liquid product is more refined, and the overall processes offer economic and energy efficiency.

Abstract: Processes for thermal conversion of biomass are provided. The processes involve upgrading the pyrolysis vapor from a pyrolysis reactor. The steps include thermally converting a biomass feedstock in a pyrolysis reactor, recovering a pyrolysis vapor from the reactor, passing the pyrolysis vapor in contact with a water-gas shift reaction catalyst and a hydrotreating catalyst, and converting the resulting upgraded pyrolysis vapor into a liquid product. The resulting biooil liquid product is more refined, and the overall processes offer economic and energy efficiency.

Abstract: Technologies to convert biomass to liquid hydrocarbon fuels are currently being developed to decrease our carbon footprint and increase use of renewable fuels. Since sugars/sugar derivatives from biomass have high oxygen content and low hydrogen content, coke becomes an issue during zeolite upgrading to liquid hydrocarbon fuels. A process was designed to reduce the coke by co-feeding sugars/sugar derivatives with a saturated recycle stream containing hydrogenated products.

Abstract: The method of reclaiming usable products from sludge is disclosed. A predetermined level of solvent within an extractor is heated, below boiling point, and dried sludge is immersed within the headed solvent. The solvent is a non-polar or polar aprotic solvents, such as ethyl acetate. The non-solid products, an oil/solvent mixture, within the sludge are separated and transferred to at least one evaporator with a concentration of between 5-25% oil in the solvent. The oil and solvent are is separated in one or more evaporators to remove approximately 80%-90%, and preferably 70%-95%, of the solvent. The solids are moved to a desolventizer for removal of the residual solvent and are then dried to a moisture content of below 25%, and preferably between 10 to 15%.

Abstract: A method of catalytically preparing a fluid product from solid carbonaceous material is described. In the method, at least one of the following equilibria is established by one or more catalysts: a) CH3OH=CO+2H2, b) CO+H2O=CO2+H2. In some versions, the solid carbonaceous material is woody biomass. Components of the fluid product can include one or a combination of C5-C9 alcohols. In certain versions, the method can be practiced with substantially all of the carbon in the carbonaceous material being converted to the fluid product. Also, in some versions, the fluid product can be prepared with substantially no char formation. The fluid product of various versions can be used directly as fuel or as a reagent for preparing commodity chemicals without the need for separating the fluid product components.

Abstract: A pyrolysis oil composition by an oxygen-starved microwave process from an organic-carbon-containing feedstock is described. Feedstock is introduced into a substantially microwave-transparent reaction chamber. A microwave source emits microwaves which are directed through the microwave-transparent wall of the reaction chamber to impinge on the feedstock within the reaction chamber. The microwave source may be rotated relative to the reaction chamber. The feedstock is subjected to microwaves until the desired reaction occurs to produce a fuel. A catalyst can be mixed with the feedstock to enhance the reaction process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for converting organic material into a burnable substance, typically a hydrocarbon fuel, such as ethanol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for intensifying the energy content of an organic material by converting the material into hydrocarbons and the resulting product thereof. A method for converting an organic material into hydrocarbon fuels is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of pressurising said organic material being in a fluid to a pressure above 225 bar, heating said organic material in said fluid to a temperature above 200 C in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst comprising a compound of at least one element of group IA of the periodic table of elements. The disclosed method further comprises the steps of contacting said organic material in said fluid with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table and/or alpha-alumina assuring that said fluid has initially a pH value of above 7.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for producing a biofuel while minimizing fossil fuel derived carbon dioxide emissions. The process can include providing a renewable feed to an ester degradation zone to produce a first stream including one or more alcohols and a second stream including one or more acids, providing the first stream to a treatment zone for removing one or more salts and to obtain a treated stream, providing the treated stream to a reforming zone to obtain an effluent including hydrogen, and providing the second stream and at least a portion of the effluent to a refining zone for producing the biofuel.

Abstract: A product produced from a wheat plant or a portion of the wheat plant produced by growing a seed of soft winter white wheat variety designated E0028. The product can be a grain, flour, baked good, cereal, pasta, beverage, livestock feed, biofuel, straw, or construction material.

Abstract: A method of hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treating biomass is provided. Lignocellulosic biomass solids is provided to a hydrothermal digestion unit in the presence of a digestive solvent, and a supported hydrogenolysis catalyst containing (a) sulfur, (b) Mo or W, and (c) Co, Ni or mixture thereof, incorporated into an alumina support, which support is predominantly alpha alumina; (ii) heating the lignocellulosic biomass solids and digestive solvent in the presence of hydrogen, and supported hydrogenolysis catalyst thereby forming a product solution containing plurality of oxygenated hydrocarbons, said alumina support having a specific surface area of up to about 30 m2/g and said catalyst retaining a crush strength of at least 50% after being subjected to an aqueous phase stability test compared with before the aqueous phase stability test or a crush strength of at least 0.25 kg after being subjected to an aqueous phase stability test.

Abstract: Processes for converting lignocellulose to feedstock and downstream products are disclosed. The processes may include acid treatment of lignocellulose to produce a fermentation feedstock. In various instances, the processes include recovery or recycling of acid, such as recovery of hydrochloric acid from concentrated and/or dilute streams. Downstream products may include acrylic acid-based products such as diapers, paper and paper-based products, ethanol, biofuels such as biodiesel and fuel additives, and detergents.