×

Method of making propanol and ethanol from plant material by biological conversion and gasification

  • US 8,329,436 B2
  • Filed: 02/11/2008
  • Issued: 12/11/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for producing propanol and ethanol from a material, wherein the material comprises plant material or plant material that has been subject to pretreatment or saccharification, and wherein less than 75% by weight of the carbon-containing compounds in the material are carbohydrate substances, the method comprising:

  • i) converting the material into at least a first intermediate and a second intermediate,wherein the first intermediate is produced by a biological conversion process and comprises propionic acid, a propionate ester, a propionate salt, acetic acid, an acetate ester, an acetate salt, or a mixture thereof, andwherein the second intermediate is produced by gasification and comprises a reductant; and

    ii) reacting the reductant and the propionic acid, propionate ester, propionate salt, acetic acid, acetate ester, acetate salt, or a mixture thereof by hydrogenation to produce propanol and ethanol,wherein the chemical energy efficiency of the method is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of i) a method in which the material is converted into propanol and ethanol using only a biological conversion process; and

    ii) a method in which all of the material is initially subjected to a thermochemical conversion step as part of the process to produce propanol and ethanol.

View all claims
  • 4 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×