Systems and methods for producing fuels from biomass
First Claim
1. A method of producing a diesel-equivalent fuel, comprising:
- pyrolyzing lignocellulosic biomass to form a pyrolysis oil;
removing char from the pyrolysis oil;
obtaining an alcohol from an alcohol feedstock tank and mixing the alcohol with the pyrolysis oil to form a pyrolysis oil and alcohol mixture; and
esterifying the pyrolysis oil by contacting the pyrolysis oil and alcohol mixture with a metal oxide catalyst at a temperature of greater than about 60 degrees Celsius to form the diesel-equivalent fuel.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to systems and methods for producing fuels. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of producing a diesel-equivalent fuel, including pyrolyzing biomass to form a pyrolysis oil and contacting the pyrolysis oil and an alcohol with a metal oxide catalyst at a temperature of greater than about 60 degrees Celsius. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of refining pyrolysis oil including contacting pyrolysis oil and an alcohol with a metal oxide catalyst at a temperature of greater than about 60 degrees Celsius. In an embodiment, the invention includes a system for processing biomass into fuel including a pyrolysis chamber defining an interior volume; a first heating element configured to heat the pyrolysis chamber; a refining chamber in selective fluid communication with the pyrolysis chamber, the refining chamber defining an interior volume, a metal oxide catalyst disposed within the interior volume; and a second heating element configured to heat the refining chamber. Other embodiments are also described herein.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of producing a diesel-equivalent fuel, comprising:
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pyrolyzing lignocellulosic biomass to form a pyrolysis oil; removing char from the pyrolysis oil; obtaining an alcohol from an alcohol feedstock tank and mixing the alcohol with the pyrolysis oil to form a pyrolysis oil and alcohol mixture; and esterifying the pyrolysis oil by contacting the pyrolysis oil and alcohol mixture with a metal oxide catalyst at a temperature of greater than about 60 degrees Celsius to form the diesel-equivalent fuel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification