PROCESS FOR UPGRADING BIOMASS DERIVED PRODUCTS USING LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION

摘要

Disclosed is a process for the alteration of the ratio of the specific gravities of the oil and water phases resulting from the conversion of biomass to liquid products, the reduction of the conductivity and of metals of the product mixture, which each can aid in the removal of solids contained in the oil phase; and a liquid-liquid extraction method for partitioning desirable carbon containing compounds into the oil phase and undesirable carbon containing compounds into the water phase.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
a) contacting an extraction solvent with a first mixture to form a second mixture comprising an extract and a raffinate, said first mixture comprising process water that has been separated from reaction products comprising (1) bio-oil and (2) said process water, wherein said reaction products are produced from catalytic conversion of biomass at temperatures ranging from 300° C. to 1000° C., and wherein said process water comprises water and biomass derived carbon containing compounds including organics A and organics B, and further wherein:
said organics A comprise compounds selected from the group consisting of i) aldehydes, ii) ketones having from 3 to 4 carbon atoms per molecule, iii) carboxylic acids having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms per molecule, and iv) combinations thereof,said organics B comprise compounds having at least four carbon atoms per molecule wherein said organics B are substantially free of: i) aldehydes, ii) ketones having from 3 to 4 carbon atoms per molecule, and iii) carboxylic acids having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms per molecule,said extract and said raffinate are immiscible,said extract comprises substantially all of said extraction solvent and substantially all of said organics B,said raffinate comprises substantially all of said water and substantially all of said organics A, andsaid extraction solvent has a dipole moment greater than about 1.0 debye, a density less than about 1.0, a water solubility at 20° C. of less than about 2.5 g/100 ml of water, and a boiling point in the range of from about 90 to about 300° F.; b) separating said second mixture thereby forming an intermediate product stream comprising at least a portion of said extract and a waste water stream comprising substantially all of said raffinate, wherein said wastewater stream comprises less than about 0.5 wt % of said organics B; and c) removing at least a portion of said extraction solvent from said intermediate product stream forming a recovered extraction solvent and a bio-oil product.