Energy densification of biomass-derived organic acids

• US 8,362,306 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Maine System Board of Trustees
• Original Assignee: University of Maine System Board of Trustees
• Inventors: Wheeler, M. Clayton, van Walsum, G. Peter, Schwartz, Thomas J., van Heiningen, Adriaan
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US12/912,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20110098503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 585/240, 585/242, 549/326, 562/515, 446/05
• US Class Current: 585/240
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 11/21 Alkatrienes; Alkatetraenes; Other alkapolyenes
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/145 with hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/22 Trihydroxylic alcohols, e.g. glycerol
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 45/54 of compounds containing doubly bound oxygen atoms, e.g. esters
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 49/12 Ketones containing more than one keto group
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 5/333 Catalytic processes
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 51/412 by conversion of the acids, their salts, esters or anhydrides with the same carboxylic acid part
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 59/185 Saturated compounds having only one carboxyl group and containing keto groups

Abstract

A process for upgrading an organic acid includes neutralizing the organic acid to form a salt and thermally decomposing the resulting salt to form an energy densified product. In certain embodiments, the organic acid is levulinic acid. The process may further include upgrading the energy densified product by conversion to alcohol and subsequent dehydration.

Claims

1. A process for upgrading a biomass derived organic acid comprising providing an organic acid;

neutralizing the organic acid to form a salt; and

heating the salt to between 200°

C. and 800°

C. to form an energy densified product, wherein the energy densified product contains at least 34 MJ/kg of stored energy.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the neutralization is done with a compound selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the organic acid comprises a mixture of organic acids to form energy densified products.

4. The process of claim 1 further comprising upgrading the energy densified product by conversion to alcohol and subsequent dehydration.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the salt is heated in a pyrolysis reactor system and the pyrolysis reactor system includes a heat transfer medium.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the organic acid includes impurities.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the organic acid is levulinic acid.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein the organic acid is lactic acid.

7. A process for upgrading levulinic acid comprising providing levulinic acid;

neutralizing the levulinic acid to form a salt; and

heating the salt to between 350°

C. and 450°

C. to form an energy densified product, wherein the energy densified product contains no more than 15% carbonyl groups.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein the neutralization is done with a compound selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, magnesium carbonate, and magnesium hydroxide.

9. The process of claim 7, further comprising upgrading the energy densified product by conversion to alcohol and subsequent dehydration.

10. The process of claim 7, wherein the organic acid includes impurities.