Biomass and waste plastics to neodiesel and valuable chemicals via supercritical water
First Claim
1. A supercritical fluid reaction apparatus for transforming a selected polymeric material flowstream into a plurality of reaction products, comprising, in fluidic series:
- an extruder;
a supercritical fluid reaction zone connected to the extruder and one or more supercritical water flowstreams, the supercritical fluid reaction zone being proximate to a circumferentially positioned heater, with the heater being configured to transfer heat to the selected polymeric material flowstream admixed together with water to supercritical conditions to thereby facilitate chemical reaction so as to yield the plurality of reaction products; and
a reaction products separation chamber connected to the supercritical fluid reaction zone, the reaction products separation chamber containing both an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase, and being configured to cool and separate by way of exits portals the plurality of reaction products into two or more reaction product flowstreams, the reaction zone defining a tube extending from the extruder to the chamber, with the water flowstreams connected to the tube separately from the zone and the chamber.
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Abstract
A supercritical fluid polymer depolymerization machine is disclosed herein, which machine is capable of converting a wide range of biomass and/or waste plastic materials into a plurality of reaction products (liquid and gaseous) including fermentable sugars, hydrocarbons, and various aromatic substances that, in turn, are readily convertible into liquid transportation fuel known as “neodiesel.” In one embodiment, a supercritical fluid reaction apparatus for transforming a selected polymeric material flowstream into a plurality of reaction products is disclosed and comprises, in fluidic series: an extruder; a supercritical fluid reaction zone fluidicly connected to the extruder, the supercritical fluid reaction zone being proximate to a circumferentially positioned heater, with the heater being configured to transfer heat to the selected polymeric material flowstream admixed together with water to supercritical conditions to thereby facilitate chemical reaction; and a reaction products separation chamber fluidicly connected to the supercritical fluid reaction zone.
55 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A supercritical fluid reaction apparatus for transforming a selected polymeric material flowstream into a plurality of reaction products, comprising, in fluidic series:
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an extruder; a supercritical fluid reaction zone connected to the extruder and one or more supercritical water flowstreams, the supercritical fluid reaction zone being proximate to a circumferentially positioned heater, with the heater being configured to transfer heat to the selected polymeric material flowstream admixed together with water to supercritical conditions to thereby facilitate chemical reaction so as to yield the plurality of reaction products; and a reaction products separation chamber connected to the supercritical fluid reaction zone, the reaction products separation chamber containing both an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase, and being configured to cool and separate by way of exits portals the plurality of reaction products into two or more reaction product flowstreams, the reaction zone defining a tube extending from the extruder to the chamber, with the water flowstreams connected to the tube separately from the zone and the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification