METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROCESSING CELLULOSIC BIOMASS

摘要

Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by release of lignin therefrom. Methods and systems for processing a reaction product containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, can comprise hydrotreating the reaction product to convert the lignin-derived products to desired higher molecular weight compounds. The methods can further include separating the higher molecular weight compounds from unconverted products, such as unconverted phenolics, and recycling the unconverted phenolics for use as at least a portion of the digestion solvent and for further conversion to desired higher molecular weight compounds with additional hydrotreatment.

主权项

1. A method for processing cellulosic biomass solids comprising:
providing a first reaction content to a reactor in a first reaction zone, where the first reaction content comprises cellulosic biomass solids, molecular hydrogen, a hydrogen-activating catalyst, and a digestion solvent; heating the first reaction content to form a first reaction product comprising phenolics and an alcoholic component; providing a second reaction content to a reactor in a second reaction zone, where the second reaction content comprises the first reaction product, molecular hydrogen, and a hydrogen-activating catalyst; heating the second reaction content to form a second reaction product comprising hydrocarbons converted from phenolics and unconverted phenolics; separating an unconverted phenolics fraction from the second reaction product; providing a first portion of the unconverted phenolics fraction to the reactor in the first reaction zone; and providing a second portion of the unconverted phenolics fraction to the reactor in the second reaction zone.