公开(公告)号：US20230348792A1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-02

申请号：US18140275

申请日：2023-04-27

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Michael Timko ,  Heather LeClerc ,  Geoffrey A. Tompsett ,  Alex R. Maag ,  Andrew R. Teixeira

IPC: C10G3/00

CPC classification number: C10G3/50 ,  C10G2300/1003 ,  C10G2300/1014 ,  C10G2300/1018 ,  C10G2400/06 ,  C10G2300/4006

Abstract: Methods for obtaining a biocrude intermediate by hydrothermal liquefaction of plant wastes are provided. Using a waste feed having a high cellulose content, the method involves grinding the waste feed to obtain a pulverized waste feed, and subjecting the pulverized waste feed to hydrothermal liquefaction at a temperature at or greater than at about 250° C. At this temperature or greater a catalyst is not necessary to obtain the biocrude. A lower temperature can be used, such as greater than about 150° C. in presence of a catalyst. The step of grinding the plant material, for example ball grinding, reduces particle size and crystallinity, and combined with the high temperature treatment improves the yield of biocrude. Biocrude can be upgraded to biofuel by high temperature hydrodeoxygenating in the presence of hydrogen. Plant wastes that would otherwise contribute green house gases are instead converted to fuels.

公开(公告)号：US11286432B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-29

申请号：US16583582

申请日：2019-09-26

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Michael T. Timko ,  Geoffrey A. Tompsett ,  Alex R. Maag

IPC: C10G53/06 ,  C10L1/02 ,  B01J23/10 ,  B01J37/02 ,  B01J23/00

Abstract: Catalyst composition and parameters for catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass to bio-oil fuels target municipal solid waste (MSW) rather than lignin rich plant waste typically sought for bio-oil production. An HTL (Hydrothermal Liquefaction) reactor generates bio-fuel from municipal solid waste (MSW), including receiving, in the HTL reactor, non-lignin based waste from a municipal processing stream, and adding a solvent for extracting sugars from green waste components of the municipal processing stream. The reactor extracts a liquid from the received waste, and converts water soluble products in the liquid into oil soluble products via C—C (carbon-to-carbon) coupling reactions. A catalyst added to the resulting aqueous stream recovers a beneficial oil product, and is optimized by tuning acid and base sites on the solid catalyst.

公开(公告)号：US20240218271A1

公开(公告)日：2024-07-04

申请号：US18540345

申请日：2023-12-14

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Michael Timko ,  Alex R. Maag ,  Elizabeth Belden ,  Geoffrey A. Tompsett ,  Andrew R. Teixeira ,  Aidin Panahi ,  Andrew Charlebois ,  Skyler Kauffman

IPC: C10G69/06 ,  C02F11/06 ,  C10B53/02 ,  C10B53/07

CPC classification number: C10G69/06 ,  C02F11/06 ,  C10B53/02 ,  C10B53/07 ,  C10G2300/1003 ,  C10G2300/80

Abstract: A waste stream of organic matter such as sewage, plant and plastic matter is received for recycling and treated with high temperature and pressure to generate useful organic products such as bio-oil and gas. Byproducts such as char and an aqueous phase including water can be selectively recycled or beingly discarded. An oxidant added to a reactor containing waste from the waste stream facilitates an autothermal reaction under the temperature and pressure applied to the reactor, boosting the temperature slightly from the reactions therein. The reactor generates useful hydrocarbons such as bio-oil resulting from disruption of organic bonds. A combination of oxidation and radical initiation results from the oxidant, and provides an increased yield of bio-oil while decreasing char when compared to temperature and pressure alone. A stoichiometric quantity of the oxidant limits complete conversion of carbon into carbon dioxide by limiting available oxygen and therefore favoring hydrocarbon formation.