Conversion of natural products including cellulose to hydrocarbons, hydrogen and/or other related compounds

• US 8,546,625 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Peterson, Andrew A., Fischer, Curt R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US12/527,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• Field of Search: 585/242, 585/240, 446/05, 568/383, 127/34, 127/42, 127/44, 435/41, 435/69.1, 435/160
• US Class Current: 585/240
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/002 in combination with oil conversion- or refining processes
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/04 by extraction
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/30 from carbon monoxide with hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1014 of vegetal origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1022 Fischer-Tropsch products
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/02 Gasoline
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/20 C2-C4 olefins
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 3/44 characterised by the catalyst used
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 5/02 acyclic C12P5/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 5/023 Methane
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 5/026 Unsaturated compounds, i.e. alkenes, alkynes or allenes
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/52 Propionic acid; Butyric acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/625 Polyesters of hydroxy carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/40 Ethylene production

Abstract

A process for the conversion of sugars and/or other biomass to produce hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and/or other related compounds is described. In one aspect, the process includes fermenting biomass to produce one or more organic intermediates, for example, a carboxylic acid, and optionally, hydrogen. The carboxylic acids may then be decarboxylated to produce carbon dioxide and one or more hydrocarbon compounds. Also described are steps to further react the hydrocarbon compounds to form polymers, hydrocarbon compounds having at least 4 carbon atoms, or the like.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

fermenting biomass or converting syngas to form an organic intermediate, at least about 25% of the organic intermediate comprising at least 3 carbon atoms; and

decarboxylating or dehydrating the organic intermediate to form a hydrocarbon compound at a temperature of at least about 475 K or a pressure of at least about 1 MPa or both.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic intermediate comprises butyric acid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic intermediate comprises polyhydroxybutyrate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least about 25% of the organic intermediate comprises at least 4 carbon atoms.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic intermediate comprises a carboxylic acid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon compound comprises alkanes or alkenes or both.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of fermenting comprises fermenting to form an organic intermediate and hydrogen gas.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising decarboxylating or dehydrating the organic intermediate using a catalyst.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of decarboxylating or dehydrating the organic intermediate occurs under conditions in which water is supercritical.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises a material having at least about 25% fermentable sugar.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises one or more of corn grain, sugar cane, sugar beets, sugar, glucose, wood chips, corn stover, wheat straw, rice straw, high-fructose corn syrup, agricultural crop residue, yard waste, sugarcane bagasse, agave bagasse, cotton, paper, paper processing waste, wood, poplar, forest residue, or molasses.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises algae.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon compound comprises propane.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon compound comprises propylene.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising reacting the hydrocarbon compound to form a polymer.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising reacting the hydrocarbon compound to form gasoline.

20. The method of claim 1, comprising fermenting biomass and converting syngas to form the organic intermediate.

21. The method of claim 1, comprising decarboxylating and dehydrating the organic intermediate.

22. The method of claim 1, comprising decarboxylating or dehydrating the organic intermediate to form a hydrocarbon compound at a temperature of at least about 475 K and a pressure of at least about 1 MPa.

17. A method, comprising:

fermenting biomass or converting syngas to form an organic intermediate, at least about 25% of the organic intermediate comprising at least 3 carbon atoms; and

exposing the organic intermediate to a supercritical fluid.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the organic intermediate comprises a polyester formed from condensation polymerization of a beta-hydroxy carboxylic acid to form a poly(beta-hydroxy alkanoate).

23. The method of claim 17, comprising fermenting biomass and converting syngas to form the organic intermediate.

19. A method, comprising:

fermenting biomass or converting syngas to form an organic intermediate in water, at least about 25% of the organic intermediate comprising at least 3 carbon atoms; and

without removing the water, reacting the organic intermediate to form a hydrocarbon compound.

24. The method of claim 19, comprising fermenting biomass and converting syngas to form the organic intermediate.