Lignocellulosic biomass conversion

摘要

A partially digested biomass solids is converted in a fixed bed catalytic reduction reactor under hydrothermal catalytic condition with a supported metal catalyst having a high void fraction. The catalyst having high void fraction allows high permeability and extends reaction run time.

主权项

1. A lignocellulosic biomass conversion method comprising:
(a) providing a solid biomass feedstock containing cellulose, lignin and water in a hydrothermal digestion unit; (b) heating the solid biomass feedstock in the hydrothermal digestion unit in the presence of a liquor to digest at least a portion of the solid biomass feedstock, thereby forming a hydrolysate comprising partially digested solids and soluble carbohydrates within a liquor phase; (c) contacting at least a portion of the hydrolysate, in one or more first fixed bed catalytic reduction reactor units, with molecular hydrogen at a temperature in the range of 180 degrees C. to less than 300 degrees C. in the presence of a supported metal catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen having an average void fraction of at least 40% and a surface area in the range of 10 m2/g to 1000 m2/g, thereby at least partially transforming the hydrolysate into a reaction product comprising one or more alcohols in the liquor phase in the one or more first fixed bed catalytic reduction reactor units; (d) recirculating at least a portion of the liquor phase and at least a portion of the partially digested solids from the one or more first fixed bed catalytic reduction reactor units to the hydrothermal digestion unit; and (e) transferring at least a portion of the reaction product to a second catalytic reduction reactor unit so as to further transform the soluble carbohydrates into a reaction product.