Stable suspensions of biomass comprising inorganic particulates

• US 8,715,377 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MARD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kior Inc.
• Inventors: O'Connor, Paul, Daamen, Sjoerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Goloboy, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): HINES, LATOSHA D
• Application Number:
  US12/377,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20100275507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,456 Days
• Field of Search: 443/85, 444/57, 444/58
• US Class Current: 44/457
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 1/02 Cellulose; Modified cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 97/02 Lignocellulosic material, e.g. wood, straw or bagasse manufacture of articles made from lignocellulosic material by dry processes B27N
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/08 with moving catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/083 in the presence of a solvent
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 11/18 according to the "fluidised-bed" technique
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1014 of vegetal origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/805 Water
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/32 consisting of coal-oil suspensions or aqueous emulsions or oil emulsions
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/44 on vegetable substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/20 using bio-feedstock

Abstract

Liquid suspensions are disclosed comprising a suspending medium, small particles of biomass, and small particles of an inorganic material. The inorganic material stabilizes the suspension, so that it may be transported by pipeline or tank car without developing a sediment.

The suspension may be used in manufacturing a bio-fuel.

Claims

1. A liquid composition comprising a water-based liquid suspension medium having suspended therein particles of a biomass material and particles of an inert inorganic material, wherein the biomass material has an average particle size in the range of 3 mm to 50 micrometers, wherein the inorganic material has an average particle size in the range of 3 mm to 50 micrometers, wherein said suspension does not precipitate solid particles when centrifuged for 10 minutes at 5000 rpm.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic material is in crystalline or quasi-crystalline form.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the biomass material comprises a polymeric material.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein the polymeric material comprises cellulose and lignocellulose.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the particles of biomass material have an average particle size in the range of from 1 mm to 0.1 mm, wherein the particles of inorganic material have an average particle size in the range of from 1 mm to 0.1 mm.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition is converted to bio-oil under mild conditions.

7. The composition of claim 1 which is transported by pipe-line or road transport to a central processing location.

8. The composition of claim 1 which is used as a feedstock in a process whereby the biomass material is converted to liquid or gaseous fuels and/or to chemicals.

9. The composition of claim 8 whereby the process is an oil refinery process selected from the group consisting of Gasification, Steam reforming, Thermal Cracking, Coking, Catalytic Cracking, Hydrocracking, and Hydro-processing.

10. The composition of claim 9, whereby the process is a Fluid Catalytic Cracking process with a low cracking activity catalyst.

11. The composition of claim 10, whereby the suspension is fed into a low cracking activity zone of the Fluid Catalytic Cracking process, wherein said low cracking activity zone comprises a stripper or regenerator.

12. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises an anti-flocculant.

13. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises a surfactant material.

14. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises a swelling agent.

15. The composition of claim 1, wherein said inorganic material comprises an alkali metal and/or an earth alkali metal.