Process for controlled liquefaction of a biomass feedstock by treatment in hot compressed water
Inventors
Ekman, Rune • Gram, Andreas • Johannesson, Haukur
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9738943-B2
Publication Date
2017-08-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention describes a process for a controlled conversion of a biomass feedstock, wherein the process comprises the steps of: loading the biomass feedstock to at least one reactor;liquefaction of the biomass feedstock into a monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture in said reactor by treatment in hot compressed liquid water (HCW) at sub- and/or super-critical condition; andremoval of the monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture, being the product molecules, to avoid continued detrimental decomposition.
Core Innovation
The process provides controlled conversion of a biomass feedstock by loading the biomass feedstock to at least one reactor and liquefaction into a monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture. The liquefaction is performed by treatment in hot compressed liquid water at sub- and/or super-critical condition, thereby forming a monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture from the biomass feedstock within the reactor environment.
After liquefaction, the process removes the monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture to avoid continued detrimental decomposition. The liquefaction is performed at a temperature of at least 280°C during a reaction time t of from 1.5 to 30 s, and can be performed in one cycle or by repeated cycles by injection of hot compressed water to apply temperature pulses.
Each injection of hot compressed water applies a temperature pulse at a sub- or super-critical condition in the reactor. The pulse involves applying a pulse start temperature during a temperature increase time and allowing for liquefaction reaction to occur during the reaction time t.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a controlled conversion process having three core inventive features: biomass liquefaction in hot compressed liquid water under sub- and/or super-critical conditions to form a monomer/oligomer sugar mixture; removal of that mixture to avoid continued detrimental decomposition; and temperature-time liquefaction performed at at least 280°C for 1.5 to 30 s using one cycle or repeated temperature pulses via injection of hot compressed water.
Biomass liquefaction in hot compressed liquid water to form a monomer/oligomer sugar mixture
Liquefaction of the biomass feedstock into a monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture in said reactor by treatment in hot compressed liquid water at sub- and/or super-critical condition.
Removal of monomer/oligomer sugar mixture to avoid continued detrimental decomposition
Removal of the monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture to avoid continued detrimental decomposition.
Temperature-time pulsed or cyclical liquefaction via injection of hot compressed water
Liquefaction performed at a temperature of at least 280°C during a reaction time t of from 1.5 to 30 s; performed in one cycle or by repeated cycles by injection of hot compressed water; wherein each injection applies a temperature pulse at a sub- or super-critical condition, involving applying a pulse start temperature during a temperature increase time and allowing for liquefaction reaction to occur during the reaction time t.
Across the independent claim, the main inventive coverage is directed to controlled biomass conversion where hot compressed liquid water under sub- and/or super-critical conditions liquefies biomass to a monomer/oligomer sugar mixture, the product mixture is removed to prevent continued detrimental decomposition, and the liquefaction is carried out at at least 280°C for 1.5 to 30 s either in one cycle or via repeated temperature pulses introduced by injection of hot compressed water.
Stated Advantages
Avoid continued detrimental decomposition by removing the monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture.
Documented Applications
Optional additional steps for hydrolysis and fermentation are described in the document, including yeast cells and ethanol production.
The document describes example feedstocks and corresponding sugar mixtures/monomer yields using pine sticks and microcrystalline cellulose.
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