Conversion of carbon containing feedstock

• US 8,691,881 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
• Original Assignee: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
• Inventors: Kauchali, Shehzaad
• Primary Examiner(s): PARSA, JAFAR F
• Application Number:
  US13/504,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20120277328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 518700-705
• US Class Current: 518/704
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/025 containing a partial oxidation step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/062 Hydrocarbon production, e.g. Fischer-Tropsch process
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1241 Natural gas or methane
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/82 Several process steps of C01B2203/02 - C01B2203/08 integrated into a single apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/84 Energy production
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/36 using oxygen or mixtures containing oxygen as gasifying agents
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/1518 one step being the formation of initial mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen for synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/04 Methanol
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 41/09 by dehydration of compounds containing hydroxy groups
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 43/04 Saturated ethers
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/32 with the use of catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1003 Waste materials
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1011 Biomass
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/4043 Limiting CO2 emissions
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/805 Water
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 3/42 Catalytic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1659 to liquid hydrocarbons Fischer-Tropsch process C10G2/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/00 Production of combustible gases containing carbon monoxide from solid carbonaceous fuels destructive distillation processes C10B
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/72 Other features
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/00 Technologies relating to oil refining and petrochemical industry
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/20 : using bio-feedstock
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/40 : Ethylene production

Abstract

This invention relates to a process for the conversion of carbon containing feedstock to a liquid chemical product, particularly a liquid fuel product, wherein carbon dioxide emissions are minimized.

Claims

1. A process for producing a liquid chemical or liquid fuel product wherein CO₂ emissions are minimized, the process comprising the steps of:

(i) endothermically gasifying a carbon-containing feedstock with an oxygen-containing gas and a carbon-containing co-feed substance to form a synthesis gas, wherein the carbon-containing co-feed substance is a substance which lies in a region bound by points CH₂—

H₂O—

H₂ on a C—

H—

O ternary phase diagram;

(ii) in the same vessel as the gasification reaction, exothermically reacting the synthesis gas to form dimethyl ether or a Fisher-Tropsch fuel product; and

(i) recycling any CO2 within theprocess;

wherein the use of the carbon-containing co-feed reduces the production of CO₂ in the process.

2. The process of claim 1, in which H₂O is added as reagent to the reacting carbon-containing feedstock, oxygen-containing gas, and carbon-containing co-feed substance.

3. The process of claim 1, in which the process also produces H₂O, carbon dioxide and unconverted synthesis gas.

4. The process of claim 1, in which the process also produces unconverted synthesis gas.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the endothermic reaction of step (i) and the exothermic reaction of step (ii) occur in a thermally balanced manner.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the process is overall exothermic.

7. A process for producing dimethyl ether wherein CO₂ emissions are minimised, the process comprising the steps of:

(i) endothermically gasifying a carbon-containing feedstrock with an oxygen-containing gas and a carbon-containing co-feed substance to form a synthesis gas, wherein the carbon-containing co-feed substance is a substance which lies in a region bound by points CH₂—

H₂O—

H₂ on a C—

H—

O ternary phase diagram;

(ii) in a separate vessel as the gasification reaction, exothermically reacting the synthesis gas to form dimethyl ether; and

(iii)recycling any CO₂ within the process;

wherein the use of the carbon-containing co-feed reduces the production of CO₂ in the process.