STABLE SUSPENSIONS OF BIOMASS COMPRISING INORGANIC PARTICULATES

• US 20130000182A1
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MARD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kior Inc.
• Inventors: O'Connor, Paul, DAAMEN, SJOERD
• Granted Patent: US 8,808,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 44/307
• 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.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A process for converting biomass to reaction products, the process comprising:

(a) contacting biomass with an inorganic material having catalytic properties, the inorganic material including;

     1) a zeolite, and

     2) at least one of a sepiolite or saponite; and

(b) converting the biomass to reaction products in the presence of the inorganic material.

38. The process of claim 37, wherein the inorganic material includes a sepiolite.

39. The process of claim 37, wherein the inorganic material includes saponite.

40. The process of claim 37, wherein the inorganic material includes a sepiolite and a zeolite.

41. The process of claim. 37, wherein the inorganic material includes saponite and a zeolite.

42. The process of claim 37, wherein step (a) further includes mixing the biomass and the inorganic material in a liquid suspension medium.

44. The process of claim 37, wherein step (b) further includes converting the biomass to reaction products via at least one process chosen from gasification, steam reforming, thermal cracking, coking, catalytic cracking, hydro-cracking, and hydro-processing.

45. The process of claim 37, wherein step (b) further includes converting the biomass to reaction products via a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process.

46. The process of claim 37, wherein the biomass includes cellulose or lignocellulose.

47. The process of claim 37, wherein the biomass includes cellulose and lignocellulose.

48. The process of claim 37, wherein the biomass includes cellulose.

49. The process of claim 37, wherein the biomass includes lignocellulose.

50. The process of claim 37, wherein the reaction products include liquid reaction products or gaseous reaction products.

51. The process of claim 37, wherein the reaction products comprise liquid reaction products and gaseous reaction products.

43. The process of claim 43, wherein the liquid suspension medium includes water.