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 and systems 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. The methods and systems can further include a further hydrotreatment step configured for additional lignin conversion and/or a further hydrotreatment step configured for generating hydrogen.

主权项

1. A method 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 first 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; providing a third reaction content to a second reactor in the second reaction zone, where the third reaction content comprises the second reaction product, molecular hydrogen, and a hydrogen-activating catalyst; heating the third reaction content to form a third reaction product comprising hydrocarbons converted from phenolics and unconverted phenolics; separating an unconverted phenolics fraction from the third 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 at least one of the first reactor and the second reactor in the second reaction zone.