Conversion of a low viscosity ligno-cellulosic biomass slurry into polyols

摘要

A process for producing polyols from a low viscosity slurry comprising a thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass which has been subjected to a fiber shives reduction step is provided. Specifically, a continuous process for catalyzing the formation of polyol products, such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, from the low viscosity slurry is provided.

主权项

1. A process for converting a thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass comprising cellulose and lignin derived from a ligno-cellulosic feedstock into at least one polyol, said thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass being in physical forms of at least fibres, fines and fiber shives, wherein:
i. the fibres each have a width of 75 μm or less, and a fibre length greater than or equal to 200 μm, ii. the fines each have a width of 75 μm or less, and a fine length less than 200 μm, iii. the fiber shives each have a width greater than 75 μm with a first portion of the fiber shives each having a shive length less than 737 μm and a second portion of the fiber shives each having a shive length greater than or equal to 737 μm;wherein the process comprises the steps of:
a. reducing the fiber shives of the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass, wherein the percent area of fiber shives having a shive length greater than or equal to 737 μm relative to the total area of fiber shives, fibres and fines of the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass after fiber shives reduction is less than the percent area of fiber shives having a shive length greater than or equal to 737 μm relative to the total area of fiber shives, fibres and fines of the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass before fiber shives reduction, wherein the percent area is measured by automated optical analysis; b. dispersing an amount of the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass before, during or after fiber shives reduction into an amount of a carrier liquid to create a slurry stream; c. contacting in a reaction zone, hydrogen, water, and the slurry stream, with a catalyst system at reaction conditions to generate an effluent stream comprising the at least one polyol; d. separating hydrogen from the effluent stream and recycling at least a portion of the separated hydrogen to the reaction zone; e. separating water from the effluent stream and recycling at least a portion of the separated water to the reaction zone; and f. recovering the at least one polyol from the effluent stream.