Producing renewable hydrocarbons and chemical products from biomass

Abstract

A process for producing renewable hydrocarbons from biomass is provided.

Description

[0001] Producing Renewable Hydrocarbons and Chemical Products from Biomass

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a process for producing bio-oil and hydrocarbons from biomass as well as to the hydrocarbons obtained by such process and to downstream products obtainable therefrom.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] For decades, fossil carbon resources like coal, oil, and gas have been extensively used as the predominant raw materials for energy production and petrochemical processes. This has led to an enormous increase of the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere causing global warming and climate change. In view of the finite availability of fossil resources and the urgency to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, there is a high need to replace fossil carbon resources by renewable carbon resources.

[0006] Thus, the production of hydrocarbons (HCs) from renewable resources like biomass, in particular for the use as fuels and base materials for chemical processes, has been attracting increasing interest. Such bio-based hydrocarbons exhibit a lower product carbon footprint and reduce the demand for fossil carbon resources.

[0007] Animal fats, vegetable oils (e.g., rape seed, line seed, soybean, palm, and camelina oil), waste oils and fats (e.g., used cooking oil, waste animal fats), microbial and algal oils, triglycerides, and fatty acids represent the most important biomass-derived raw materials for bio-based hydrocarbon production. Among the major pathways towards bio-based hydrocarbons is the catalytic hydrotreatment of these triglycerides and fatty acids, which includes inter alia deoxygenation and cracking processes under high temperature and pressure conditions, resulting in a hydrocarbon mixture comprising n- and iso-paraffins, among others. These reaction products may be further separated into gaseous and liquid fractions, which constitute valuable transportation fuels and chemical feedstocks, e.g., as renewable diesel (hydrotreated vegetable oils: HVOs), renewable jet fuel (sustainable aviation fuel: SAF), bio-naphtha (a mixture of hydrocarbons mainly comprising paraffins, e.g. of up to 10 carbon atoms, that can be used - similar to naphtha of fossil origin - as a gasoline blending component or as a chemical feedstock, e.g., for crackers), and other low- boiling hydrocarbons (i.e. mainly C1-4 hydrocarbons, in particular C1-4 alkanes: bio-Ci-4-HCs) like bio-based liquefied petroleum gas (LPG; e.g. bio-based butane, propane, and ethane). For instance, bio-naphtha derived from different types of plant biomass can be used as a feedstock in crackers of the chemical industry, thus being the basis for a lot of chemical products, inter alia polymers. Numerous patent applications such as WO 2011 / 012439 A1 , WO 2011 / 053166 A1, WO 2019 / 197720 A1 , and WO 2020 / 025441 A1 disclose processes for making bio-naphtha from mixtures of naturally occurring fats and oils by way of hydrotreatment and describe products made from bio-naphtha by way of hydrocracking.

[0008] While the above-mentioned product streams may in principle be fully bio-based regarding their carbon content and thus may have a positive effect on the global climate, it must be borne in mind that their production may come along with other societal and environmental drawbacks: The worldwide availability of farmland to grow plants is limited and so is the obtainable biomass basis. Thus, the use of land to grow plants for producing bio-based fuels and chemical feedstocks as well as the use of edible crops for such purposes compete with their respective uses to feed the world's population, which results in higher prices and lower availabilities of food supplies. Also, the increasing land use to fulfill the growing demands frequently results in displacing primeval forests or tropical rain forests, which leads to a loss of biodiversity and to soil depletion.

[0009] Thus, there is still a need to find ways to produce bio-based fuels, hydrocarbons, and chemicals in a more sustainable fashion that does not cause further societal or environmental downsides. In particular, alternative biomass feedstocks are needed that preferably entail additional ecological advantages beyond providing renewable carbon.

[0010] Summary of the Invention

[0011] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a process for producing hydrocarbons from biomass, the process comprising the steps

[0012] A) providing biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs;

[0013] B) processing said biomass into a product stream comprising bio-oil; and

[0014] C) hydrotreating said product stream catalytically to obtain hydrocarbons.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a process for producing a product stream comprising bio-oil from biomass, the process comprising the steps

[0016] A) providing biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs, step A) comprising the sub-steps

[0017] A1 ) selecting a plantation site for trees and / or shrubs;

[0018] A2) sowing and / or planting trees and / or shrubs to establish a plantation at the selected plantation site;

[0019] A3) maintaining the plantation at least until said trees and / or shrubs form seeds and / or fruits;

[0020] A4) harvesting and / or collecting seeds and / or fruits of said trees and / or shrubs; and

[0021] A5) optionally mixing said seeds and / or fruits with biomass streams of other sources; and

[0022] B) processing said biomass into a product stream comprising bio-oil.

[0023] In further aspects, the present invention relates to hydrocarbons, in particular bio-naphtha, and to downstream products thereof like olefins, preferably selected from ethylene, propylene, and C4 olefins, aromatic hydrocarbons, preferably selected from benzene, toluene, and xylenes, monomers, polymers, and polymer products, all of which characterized in that at least 10 %, preferably at least 20 %, more preferably at least 30 %, more preferably at least 40 %, more preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %, more preferably at least 95 % of the carbon atoms of or introduced via the hydrocarbons originate from biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] FIG 1 : Flow diagram showing a process for producing renewable hydrocarbons (HCs) from biomass

[0025] FIG 2: Flow diagram showing a process for producing steam cracking products from biomass

[0026] FIG 3: Flow diagram showing a process for producing polyurethanes from biomass Legend for FIGs 1-3:

[0027] 1 : biomass; 2: bio-oil; 3: hydrogen; 4: hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), sustainable aviation fuel (SAF); 5: bio-naph- tha; 6: bio-Ci-4-hydrocarbons (bio-Ci-4-HCs); 7: olefins; 8: aromatic hydrocarbons; 9: polyurethanes;

[0028] 11 : site selection and plantation; 12: conversion; 13: hydrotreatment and separation; 14: steam cracking and separation; 15: combustion; 16: downstream synthesis

[0029] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0030] The present invention provides a process for producing hydrocarbons (e.g., bio-naphtha) from biomass, in particular from seeds (like oil seed) and fruits of trees or shrubs, and for producing downstream products derived therefrom. Said hydrocarbons (HCs) are regarded as renewable; said downstream products are regarded as renewable at least insofar as they are based on said renewable hydrocarbons.

[0031] The production of said hydrocarbons starts with the provision of biomass which is obtained from the biosphere and its conversion, including mechanical operations and chemical processes, to bio-oil which is then further refined and / or upgraded, especially catalytically hydrotreated, to hydrocarbon fuels (hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO), sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)), bio-Cu-hydrocarbons (bio-Cu-HCs), and bio-naphtha, which can be utilized as a gasoline blending component or as a feedstock for further petrochemical processes, in particular for steam cracking to produce olefins. To make this production process more sustainable, the whole of the production chain needs to be considered.

[0032] In general, the renewable hydrocarbons, obtained by hydrotreatment of bio-oils derived from biomass, and downstream products thereof exhibit an improved carbon footprint. Also, as the biomass basis is broadened, they may be obtained in larger amounts, which is advantageous especially in view of their currently very limited availability on the market. Hence, more of said renewable hydrocarbons may find economically more attractive applications.

[0033] While in principle, basically any type of biomass convertible to bio-oils may be used as a raw material basis for said hydrocarbons, it may be beneficial to introduce via the employed biomass as little variation as possible to the hydrotreatment process in order to be able to tailor the process steps and parameters and to optimize the overall process performance. Thus, a purposeful selection of the biomass sources may be advantageous.

[0034] It is described herein that it is particularly favorable to choose certain plant species as biomass sources, namely trees and shrubs, preferably trees and shrubs that provide oil-bearing, more preferably inedible seeds and / or fruits. Said plant species will help to make the chemical industry more sustainable and, e.g., through afforestation, to deliver positive effects on the climate and environment while preferably avoiding negative societal consequences. For instance, the renewable hydrocarbons and downstream products according to the invention being utilizable as substitutes for their fossil-based analogs, fossil resources are spared and net carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere are reduced. Thus, the process according to the invention has an overall positive climate effect by dampening greenhouse gas emissions and hence global warming. More specifically, perennial trees and shrubs can bind more carbon dioxide over a longer period than annual plants such as corn. In addition, trees and shrubs also exhibit positive effects on the microclimate in their immediate surroundings: Not only do they cool the ground through casting shadow, but also their environment through evaporative cooling on the leave surfaces. Also, trees and shrubs evaporate more water per year than grasses and the like, such that the formation of clouds may be promoted. Clouds in turn are among the best protection measures against the heating of the earth's surface and atmosphere by solar irradiation (albedo) and, through rainfalls, may provide additional drinking water to otherwise dry regions. Trees and shrubs are also known to form extended root systems in the soil. By doing so, they can improve the ability of the soil to absorb, retain, and store water, to withstand erosion due to wind and rain, to mitigate floodings caused by heavy rainfalls, and to counteract the sea level rise. In addition, the plant bodies of perennial trees and shrubs can be regarded as long-term onshore water reservoirs with beneficial effects on water cycle and sea level. Further, certain trees and shrubs have been reported to be able to remove heavy metals from contaminated soils and thus to increase the soil quality. In particular, these advantages may come into play for eudicot trees and shrubs with their extended large-surface system of roots, including root hairs, which supports efficient water and nutrient uptake from the soil. Overall, the improvement of soil characteristics by the presence of trees and shrubs may foster the development of diverse microecosystems in their surroundings.

[0035] Specific trees and shrubs are also characterized by their ability to grow on dry land and in arid areas. For instance, some eudicot trees are known to be relatively tolerant of poor soil conditions. Therefore, land that is rather unsuited for other agricultural uses may be utilized for tree and shrub plantations, with the above-mentioned benefits for the climate and the soil. Also, tree plantations may be compatible with further land utilization as grassland or meadow land. Thus, competition for land with food production is reduced or avoided, additional regions are opened up for agriculture or forestry, no deforestation of rain forests is induced, and additional income opportunities are created for the population of barren lands. Furthermore, trees and shrubs may provide additional biomass resources like leaves, twigs and branches, deadwood, woodchips and sawdust, nutshells and the like that can be used, for instance, as carbon-neutral combustible materials and fuels.

[0036] For instance, Jatropha trees, in particular Jatropha curcas trees, provide oil-bearing seeds that are inedible for humans and are also little susceptible to parasites. Also, Jatropha trees can be cultivated under harsh climatic conditions, e.g., in arid regions, on degraded land, and on unfertile, poor, or fragile soils, i.e., in regions that are not easy to use or have not been used so far for other agricultural or forestry purposes. Thus, Jatropha plantations may be established with hardly any competition with food production. Interestingly, it has been further reported that Jatropha curcas is able to accumulate heavy metals like Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Pd, Sn, Zn from the soil, thus having the potential to be used for phytoremediation of contaminated soils (Kamusoko et al., Clean - Soil, Air, Water 2017, 45, 1700444; Alvarez-Mateos et al., J. Environ. Manag. 2019, 231, 886; Garcia Martin et al., Plants 2020, 9, 418).

[0037] Thus, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a process for producing hydrocarbons from biomass, the process comprising the steps

[0038] A) providing biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs;

[0039] B) processing said biomass into a product stream comprising bio-oil; and

[0040] C) hydrotreating said product stream catalytically to obtain hydrocarbons. Step A)

[0041] Biomass is biological material derived from living or recently living organisms. In particular, the term biomass comprises plants or parts thereof like crops, wood, or residues thereof, marine organisms like algae, and bio waste such as organic food waste, animal fat from meat industry waste, fish fat from fish processing waste, or used cooking oil. The biomass to be provided in step A) is any material of plant or animal origin, or any mixture thereof, that comprises seeds or fruits of trees or shrubs and that is in principle suitable to be converted into bio-oil. The term fruits as used herein is meant to include parts of fruits. Preferably, said seeds or fruits originate from perennial plants, in particular from trees. More preferably, said seeds or fruits are inedible for humans. Inedible for humans means that said seeds or fruits are not commonly used to feed a human population or claimed for nutrition of humans, preferably inedible means they are toxic, unhealthy, non-nutritious, spoiled, contaminated, unenjoyable, or a combination thereof. Also of preference are seeds and fruits of trees or shrubs that can grow on barren land or wasteland, in particular eudicot trees and shrubs.

[0042] Of note, the biomass provided in step A) may be composed of biomass streams from various of the above-mentioned sources. Preferably, the biomass provided in step A) is derived only from plants or parts thereof, the plants preferably being of one clade, more preferably of one family, more preferably of one genus, most preferably of one species.

[0043] Providing biomass according to step A) means making said biomass available for further conversion, use, or processing and, in the case of biomass of plant origin, preferably comprises agricultural and forestry measures and activities like sowing, planting, maintaining the plantation, harvesting, and collecting plants or parts thereof like seeds and fruits. Within this disclosure, the term plantation designates any deliberate farming, forestry, growing, or cultivating of plants for economic purposes on a land area of any size. Maintaining the plantation includes growing, cultivating, caring, pruning, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, Jatropha is cultivated in arid regions that are irrigated with desalinated seawater. Desalination or irrigation or both are preferably carried out using renewable energy. The renewable energy is preferably based on wind power or sunlight. Maintaining the plantation also includes the removal, separation, and collection of parts of the trees and / or shrubs that are not suitable to be converted into bio-oil and thus do not serve the primary goal of the plantation, namely the provision of biomass to produce bio-oil. Such parts of the trees and / or shrubs delivered by the plantation are referred herein to by the term "plantation by-products”, in contrast to the seeds and / or fruits which are considered the plantation products. Plantation by-products may be obtained not only during maintaining the plantation, but also during the process of harvesting seeds and fruits. Also, to leverage the full potential and benefit of such agricultural and forestry measures and activities, the selection of the plantation site for the respective plants, e.g., said trees and / or shrubs, may be considered as a part of the process of providing biomass. Criteria for making such a selection may be related to the local climate as well as to the soil characteristics or the previous use of the land. Preferred are regions with an aridity index (Al) according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) classification (Al (UNEP)) in the range of dry subhumid (0.50 < Al (UNEP) < 0.65), semi-arid (0.20 < Al (UNEP) < 0.50), arid (0.05 < Al (UNEP) < 0.20), or hyperarid (Al (UNEP) < 0.05). Also, metal-contaminated soils (e.g., as defined by the mass fraction thresholds described in the Finnish legislation for contaminated soil (Decree 214 / 2007) and, e.g., as determined by one of the methods described in Soodan et al. Taianta 2014, 125, 405 and Appendix A), or land that has previously not been used or has only hardly been used for agricultural or forestry purposes may be preferred. Further, the biomass obtained from such plantation may optionally be mixed with biomass streams of other sources, in particular with biomass of any of the origins mentioned hereinbefore.

[0044] Step B)

[0045] The processing of biomass according to step B) may comprise both mechanical and physical operations, like crushing, cracking, cutting, shredding, grinding, chipping, milling, extrusion, irradiation, squeezing, pressing, filtering, sieving, adsorption, and thermal treatments such as drying and torrefaction, and chemical processes, like extraction, distillation, thermochemical conversions like pyrolysis or hydrothermal liquefaction, gasification followed by Fischer- Tropsch processes, hydrolysis, saponification, neutralization, ketonization, or hydrogenation. Also, the mechanical, physical, and / or chemical separation of the products and by-products of said operations and processes, in particular the separation of gaseous, liquid, and solid fractions, forms part of the biomass processing according to step B). In essence, step B) comprises the removal of all by-products from the biomass conversion product stream that are not suitable or are detrimental for further use as a feedstock for subsequent hydrotreatment in step C). The right choice of appropriate process steps and operating conditions is mainly dependent on the biomass to be processed; but the one skilled in the art will be familiar with such considerations, in particular when it comes to the production and processing of vegetable oils and the like.

[0046] The product stream obtained by said biomass processing comprises bio-oil. Bio-oil designates a liquid compound mixture mainly comprising highly oxygenated compounds (e.g., glycerides, esters, carboxylic acids, phenols, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, furans, and sugars) and water, while its exact composition depends on the biomass feedstocks and the processing steps applied. The term bio-oil includes in particular vegetable oils like rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, and palm oil, waste cooking oil, tall oil, animal fats, and oils obtained by thermochemical conversion of biomass, e.g., biomass-derived pyrolysis or hydrothermal liquefaction oils.

[0047] In addition to the product stream, processing the biomass according to step B) will provide by-products, in particular biomass residues and / or biomass waste may accumulate, herein referred to as "processing by-products”. The amount and quality of these processing by-products depend on the biomass feedstocks and the processing steps applied. The by-products may comprise in particular solid, semi-solid, and liquid components, such as organic residues like hulls, shells, gum, straw, cellulose, spent cake, oil cake, press cake, soapstock, distillates like palm fatty acid distillate, spent bleaching earth, woodchips, pulp, other plant residues, as well as effluents and effluent sludges containing organic material, preferably nutshells, spent cake, oil cake, and press cake. It is to be understood that processing the biomass into a product stream may also comprise purification steps, e.g., to remove any by-products like residues, contaminants, or impurities that may be detrimental for the further process steps or for further use of the end products of the process. Step C)

[0048] The product stream of step B) is further subjected to catalytic hydrotreatment; it is encompassed within this disclosure that the product stream is hydrotreated either alone or in admixture with other suitable feedstocks, preferably of renewable or recycled origin. The terms renewable and recycled origin, respectively, refer to the origin of the carbon content of the respective feedstocks; for instance, feedstocks based on resources like biomass are considered to be of renewable origin while feedstocks based on resources like plastic waste are considered to be of recycled origin. When a feedstock mixture is used for hydrotreatment in step C), the mass fraction of the product stream of step B) therein should be chosen as high as possible to profit the most from the benefits and advantages of the invention as described herein. The content of carbon atoms originating from biomass can be determined via measurement of the14C mole fraction, see e.g., DIN EN 16640:2017-08.

[0049] Preferably, said feedstocks of recycled origin are obtained from chemical materials, downstream products, polymers, or polymer products that have been produced from biomass, more preferably according to the process according to the invention. Thus, said feedstocks could be considered as being of recycled renewable origin. For instance, this recycling of chemical materials, downstream products, polymers, or polymer products may be achieved by pyrolysis to obtain pyrolysis oil that may be used as a feedstock of step C) in admixture with the product stream of step B). Such recycling of bio-based products allows to keep the bio-based carbon, i.e., carbon that had been removed from the atmosphere, within the value chain for a longer period of time, thus, helping to achieve the goal of net-zero emissions. Also, such recycling loops allow for an eventual increase of the fraction of the renewable or bio-based content in the products, in particular in case where initially only parts of the feedstock could be provided from renewable sources.

[0050] Catalytic hydrotreatment, i.e., chemical operations using hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst at high temperatures and pressures, is a well-established upgrading technology, e.g., for processing bio-oils, that includes more specifically the processes of hydrodeoxygenation, hydrodenitrogenation, hydrodehalogenation, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodemetallation, hydrocracking, hydroisomerization, and hydrogenation (e.g., of C-C double bonds, C-C triple bonds, and conjugated C-C double bonds). Thus, the resulting hydrocarbons are depleted, in comparison to the product stream provided in step B), in at least one respect selected from the group consisting of amount of C-C double bonds, amount of C-C triple bonds, amount of dienes, amount of aromatics, amount of heteroatoms like oxygen, nitrogen, halogens, sulfur, and metals, amount of organic compounds comprising at least one heteroatom, the heteroatoms preferably selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, halogens, and sulfur, and / or mass fraction of hydrocarbons comprising more than 9 carbon atoms. The exact composition of the obtained hydrocarbon mixture will depend, for example, on the feedstock composition, the processing conditions, and the catalyst properties. Catalytic hydrotreatment is hence intended to improve the properties and the suitability of the bio-oil for further uses, thus to obtain a more valuable feedstock for successive processing, e.g., in cracking processes such as steam cracking. Other reasons for a catalytic hydrotreatment of bio-oils comprise the prevention of fouling in further process steps, the improvement of the physical and chemical (storage) stability, and the provision of feedstocks which are within required specifications for successive unit operations. Such specifications may comprise final boiling point, chemical composition, concentration limits for heteroatoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, viscosity, miscibility, and the like.

[0051] Large amounts of hydrogen are typically needed to accomplish the goal of converting bio-oils into renewable hydrocarbons that are suitable for further use, be it as fuels (in particular renewable diesel and renewable jet fuel) or as chemical feedstocks (in particular bio-naphtha). Most of the available hydrogen being derived from fossil sources, the carbon footprint of such renewable hydrocarbons is often negatively impacted by the hydrogen demand. Therefore, preferably, at least a part of the hydrogen needed for hydrotreatment of the product stream, especially of bio-oils, is provided from renewable sources; renewable sources of hydrogen include reforming and pyrolysis of biogas, cracking of "green” ammonia (i.e. , ammonia produced from hydrogen of non-fossil origin), and cracking of "green” methanol (i.e., methanol produced from hydrogen of non-fossil origin) as well as water electrolysis powered by non-fossil, preferably renewable, electricity, e.g., by solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal, or hydropower or by power generated from waste or biomass. The term "at least a part of the hydrogen” means that a part of the hydrogen needed can still be produced from fossil resources, preferably from natural gas. However, the fraction of hydrogen of fossil origin should be as low as possible, preferably < 50 %, more preferably < 30 %, most preferably < 20 %, further most preferably < 10 %; ideally, the hydrogen is obtained exclusively from non-fossil sources.

[0052] Catalytic hydrotreatment reactions can be single-phase reactions or multi-phase reactions (e.g., one or more liquid feedstock reacts with gaseous hydrogen; one or more liquid feedstock reacts with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of at least one heterogeneous catalyst; one or more gaseous feedstock reacts with gaseous hydrogen; one or more gaseous feedstock reacts with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of at least one heterogeneous catalyst and so on). Accordingly, different types of reactors can be used, depending for example on the number of phases which must be brought to a reaction. Examples for suitable reactors in case one or more liquid feedstock reacts with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of at least one (solid) heterogeneous catalyst comprise trickle-bed reactors. Examples for suitable reactors in case one or more gaseous feedstock reacts with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of at least one (solid) heterogeneous catalyst comprise fixed bed reactors.

[0053] Catalytic hydrotreatment can be conducted in a single stage (reactor) or in successive stages (successive reactors) in which case different process conditions, reactor types and catalysts may be employed to achieve an improved result compared to a single stage hydrotreatment.

[0054] Suitable heterogeneous catalysts comprise at least one active metal and a support. The at least one active metal is preferably selected from nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, palladium, rhodium, and the like. Combinations of said active metals such as for example nickel-molybdenum, cobalt-molybdenum and the like can also be used. The support in such heterogeneous catalysts is preferably selected from the group comprising alumina and silica. The temperature, pressure residence time, reactor type, catalyst type and other parameters depend for example on the type of bio-oil and the type of the desired hydrotreatment reaction (e.g., the components to be depleted). The one of skill in the art will be familiar with such considerations and will find sufficient guidance in the prior art to select suitable process parameters. In particular, said parameters may be chosen to increase the yield of bio-naphtha over the other hydrocarbons produced.

[0055] To this end, catalytic hydrotreatment may in particular include hydrocracking reactions to break long-chain hydrocarbons (i.e., for instance the HVO and SAF fractions) into shorter hydrocarbons, e.g., to increase the yield of bio-naph- tha and / or bio-Ci-4-HC (like propane) fractions and to decrease the yields of HVO and SAF fractions. Catalytic hydrocracking is typically carried out over bifunctional catalysts in a hydrogen atmosphere at pressures between 40 bar and 200 bar and temperatures between 300 °C and 600 °C. If the process takes place at medium pressure between 40 bar to 80 bar, it is referred to as mild hydrocracking (MHO). The bifunctional catalysts contain a de- / hydrogenation and an acid functionality, e.g., nickel, molybdenum or noble metals on alumina, zeolites, or other aluminosilicates. Hydrocracking methods are for example disclosed in WO 2019 / 229072 A1, EP 2770040 A2, and US 2013 / 0116491 A1. Typically, alkanes and alkyl residues having more than 9 carbon atoms are at least partially converted into alkanes and alkyl residues of less carbon atoms and shorter chain lengths.

[0056] Further process steps

[0057] The process according to the invention may comprise further optional steps where needed or advisable to improve the overall performance of the process. In particular, purification and separation steps may be applied to the product stream, e.g., in step B), and / or to the hydrocarbons of step C) to improve their properties or to meet certain specifications for further process steps.

[0058] Also, the hydrocarbons of step C) may be separated into different value products according to established fractionation techniques, especially to obtain separated renewable diesel, renewable jet fuel, bio-naphtha, and / or bio-Ci-4-HC (like propane) fractions.

[0059] For instance, separation according may be performed by distillation. A suitable distillation unit may comprise at least one distillation column, at least one thin film evaporator or a combination thereof. Preferably, the distillation unit comprises or consists of one distillation column. The distillation may be carried out at a temperature in the range of about 0 °C to about 600 °C, more preferably from about 20 °C to about 400 °C, most preferably from about 80 °C to about 250 °C (the temperature ranges refer to atmospheric pressure of 1.013 bar). The corresponding operating pressure of the at least one distillation column preferably ranges from about 0.001 bar to about 4 bar (abs), more preferably from about 0.001 bar to about 2.0 bar (abs), most preferably from about 0.9 bar to about 1 .8 bar (abs). The temperature is adjusted accordingly in case the pressure is A 1.013 bar. Optionally, the distillation unit comprises at least one thin-film evaporator. Thermally unstable liquids and substances, respectively, can be evaporated in such thin-film evaporators. Furthermore, thin-film evaporators can be used for separation tasks if the product accumulating as a residue has poor flow properties and / or is prone to agglutinations. Suitable thin-film evaporators are available in various designs, for example as falling-film evaporators or as rotary evaporators.

[0060] Furthermore, an isomerization step of the obtained hydrocarbons may be included to improve their properties and performances (e.g., at low temperatures) during further use, e.g., as fuels, blendstocks, or as chemical feedstocks. Isomerization may, for example, be carried out as hydroisomerization and / or catalytic isomerization.

[0061] Also, hydrocarbon fractions with longer alkyl chains such as the HVO and SAF fractions or parts thereof, may be fed back to the hydrotreatment process. This may be particularly attractive when the hydrotreatment process comprises hydrocracking reactions and the yield of short-chain hydrocarbons like bio-naphtha and bio-Cu-HCs are to be increased.

[0062] The one of skill in the art will find no difficulty to carry out these well-established process steps.

[0063] In addition, the products of said separation, e.g., the bio-naphtha fraction, and of said optional isomerization step may be further utilized in refinery or petrochemical processes, for instance as a blend stock for fuel blending or, optionally after blending with other feedstocks, as a feedstock for steam cracking. Chemicals, chemical materials, and related products manufactured from the hydrocarbons obtained in step C) in successive processing are referred herein to as "downstream products”, "chemical material”, "monomer”, "polymer”, or "polymer product”.

[0064] Blending of chemical feedstocks is not unusual to improve their characteristics, e.g., to optimize their physical or chemical properties for the intended use, e.g., for further process steps. Also, blending may be necessary to meet the chemical and / or physical specifications of plants, equipment, and catalysts that are utilized to process the feedstock and / or blend further. Steam cracking is the most important industrial process for producing lighter olefins (in particular ethylene, propylene, and C4 olefins) as well as aromatic hydrocarbons (in particular benzene, toluene, and xylenes), e.g., from naphtha. Such steam cracking processes, including methods to separate the steam cracking products, are known in the art and for example disclosed in H. Zimmermann, R. Walzl, Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Vol. 13 "Ethylene”, pp. 469-494, 2012.

[0065] The term steam cracking products, as used herein, relates to products obtainable from steam cracking processes, in particular it relates to olefins (like ethylene, propylene, and C4 olefins), aromatic hydrocarbons (like benzene, toluene, and xylenes), and low-boiling hydrocarbons (CM-HCS, like methane). Also, hydrogen is formed during steam cracking.

[0066] To date, steam cracker furnaces are typically fired by combustion of fossil fuels, in particular natural gas, which impairs the carbon footprint of the cracking products obtained from the hydrocarbons according to the invention. To mitigate or overcome this negative impact, the light hydrocarbon fractions obtained from hydrotreatment and / or steam cracking (e.g., the bio-Cu-HCs) may be used as fuel or co-fuel for the steam cracker furnaces. These light hydrocarbon fractions originating from the biomass as provided in step A), additional carbon dioxide emissions of fossil origin can be avoided.

[0067] As a further steam cracking product, hydrogen is produced. As described herein, said hydrogen is considered to originate from renewable sources as the steam cracker feedstock is based on hydrocarbons obtained from biomass. Thus, said hydrogen may be used for hydrotreatment of the product stream, especially of bio-oils, according to step C) without negatively impacting the carbon footprint of the hydrocarbons formed.

[0068] Along similar lines, the plantation by-products of step A) and / or the processing by-products of step B) can be used advantageously for material and energy purposes within the processes according to the invention. To this end, additional steps may be performed to make said by-products fit for the intended purpose, e.g., to prepare suitable fuel materials; for instance, nutshells and press cakes may be subjected to drying, crushing, grinding, pelletization, sieving and the like to obtain pellets suitable for combustion. Thus, the energetic use of said by-products includes above all the use as combustion materials and fuels to produce energy, especially thermal energy, which can be used to support various process steps described herein, e.g., the steam cracking process. The material use of said by-products includes the conversion into chemical raw materials (e.g., into syngas via gasification or into bio-gas or bio-me- thane via fermentation) which in turn may be suitable for energetic or material use in various process steps described herein.

[0069] Further process steps may follow to yield further downstream products (e.g., the monomers, polymers, and polymer products described herein) from said steam cracking products, e.g., from olefins and aromatic hydrocarbons.

[0070] In particular, a process step may be comprised for converting the olefins and / or aromatic hydrocarbons, obtained in the above-mentioned steam cracking and / or subsequent separation steps, and / or any other downstream products and / or chemical material obtainable by or obtained by the process as described herein to obtain a monomer, polymer, or polymer product.

[0071] Said converting step(s) to obtain the chemical material, monomer, polymer, or polymer product from the hydrocarbons and / or steam cracking products may comprise one or more synthesis steps and can be performed by conventional synthesis and techniques well known to a person skilled in the art. Independent of the person skilled in the art to assess novelty and inventive step of the independent claim(s), the person skilled in the art to perform the converting step(s) is preferably from the technical field(s) pyrolysis, gasification, remono-merization, depolymerization, synthesis, production of monomers, polymers and polymer compounds, and / or its further processing (e.g., extrusion, injection molding). Examples of the step(s) of the conversion are described in "Industrial Organic Chemistry”, 3. volume, Wiley-VCH, 1997, ISBN: 978-3-527-28838-0, „Kunststoffhandbuch", 11 volumes in 17 sub-volumes, Carl Hanser Verlag; especially volume 6, ..Polyamide", 1. edition, 1966, volume 7, ..Polyurethane”, 3. edition, 1993, and volume 8, "Polyester”, 1. edition 1973; "Industrial Organic Chemistry”, 3. volume, Wiley-VCH, 1997, ISBN: 978-3- 527-28838-0, "Injection Molding Reference Guide, 4th edition, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011 , ISBN: 978-1466407824, EP0989146 (A1), EP1460094 (A1 ), W02006034800 (A1 ), EP1529792 (A1 ), W02006042674 (A1 ), EP0364854 (A2), US5506275 (A), EP0897402 (A1), WO2015082316 (A1), WO2021021855 (A1), WO2021126938 (A1), W02021021902 (A1), WO2021092311 (A1), W02008155271 (A1), WO2013139827 (A1), each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0072] To benefit from the advantages of recycling as outlined above for step C), said converting step(s) may also encompass the use of recycled chemical materials, downstream products, polymers, or polymer products that have been produced from biomass, more preferably according to the process according to the invention.

[0073] Further embodiments of the invention are described by way of FIGs 1-3:

[0074] FIG 1 depicts a process to produce renewable hydrocarbons from biomass (1). The process optionally starts with the selection of a plantation site and establishing the plantation (11). Biomass (1) is obtained from said plantation, e.g. by harvesting, and then converted (12) to bio-oil (2). Said bio-oil is hydrotreated (13) in the presence of hydrogen (3) to obtain hydrocarbons that are then separated into at least one HVO and / or SAF fraction (4), a bio-naphtha fraction (5) and a bio-C 1.4-HC fraction (6). Optionally, the at least one HVO and / or SAF fraction (4) is fed back to the hydrotreatment (13), in particular to increase the bio-naphtha yield by hydrocracking reactions.

[0075] FIG 2 depicts a process to produce steam cracking products from biomass. The process of FIG 2 differs from the one depicted in FIG 1 by the fact that bio-naphtha (5) is subjected to steam cracking and subsequent separation (14) of the steam cracking products into at least one olefin fraction (7), at least one aromatic hydrocarbon fraction (8), a hydrogen fraction (3) and at least one C1.4-HC fraction (6). Optionally, the hydrogen fraction is used for hydrotreatment step (13). Also, optionally one or both of the C1.4-HC fractions (6) obtained from hydrotreatment (13) and steam cracking (14), respectively, is combusted (15) as a fuel for firing the steam cracker furnaces. FIG 2 is intended to include the case that not all the hydrogen (3) needed for hydrotreatment (13) originates from the steam cracking process (14), but a part thereof may originate from other sources.

[0076] FIG 3 depicts a process to produce polyurethanes (9) from biomass. The process of FIG 3 differs from the one depicted in FIG 2 by the fact that steam cracking products, olefins (7) and / or aromatic hydrocarbons (8), are used for further downstream syntheses (16) of polyurethane polymers. The exact starting materials needed and process steps to be conducted depend on the type of polyurethane to be synthesized; such processes are well-described in the prior art and known to the skilled person.

[0077] It is to be understood that more than one entity may be involved in carrying out the process sequences according to the invention as described hereinbefore and hereinafter.

[0078] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a process for producing a product stream comprising bio-oil from biomass, the process comprising the steps A) providing biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs, step A)comprising the sub-steps

[0079] A1) selecting a plantation site for trees and / or shrubs;

[0080] A2) sowing and / or planting trees and / or shrubs to establish a plantation at the selected plantation site;

[0081] A3) maintaining the plantation at least until said trees and / or shrubs form seeds and / or fruits;

[0082] A4) harvesting and / or collecting seeds and / or fruits of said trees and / or shrubs; and

[0083] A5) optionally mixing said seeds and / or fruits with biomass streams of other sources; and

[0084] B) processing said biomass into a product stream comprising bio-oil.

[0085] Details on the process steps A), A1) - A5) and B), including specific embodiments, are described hereinbefore and hereinafter for the first aspect of the invention. They apply equally and without limitation to the process according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0086] In further aspects, the invention relates to the products obtained by carrying out the processes described herein, in particular to hydrocarbons as well as to any fractions and downstream products thereof like bio-naphtha, blends, olefins, aromatic hydrocarbons, monomers, polymers, or polymer products, all of which are characterized by the raw material basis they are derived from, namely the biomass provided in step A), and / or by their manufacturing process. The content of carbon atoms originating from biomass as used herein is preferably determined via measurement of the14C mole fraction, more preferably according to DIN EN 16640:2017-08.

[0087] The different embodiments described herein for the first aspect of the invention apply equally to the further aspects mentioned below.

[0088] Further embodiments of the different aspects of the invention are described by the combination of any and each of the above definitions and embodiments with one another.

[0089] Of note, whenever used hereinbefore or hereinafter, the terms "comprise(s)”, "comprising” etc. are inclusive of and may, in a preferred embodiment, be replaced by the terms "consist(s) of', "consisting of' etc.

[0090] The following set of embodiments further illustrates, but in no way restricts the present invention as described herein. Being directed to preferred embodiments, it represents a suitably structured part of the description and thus supports, but does not represent the claims of the present invention.

[0091] 1. A process for producing hydrocarbons from biomass, the process comprising the steps

[0092] A) providing biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs;

[0093] B) processing said biomass into a product stream comprising bio-oil; and

[0094] C) hydrotreating said product stream catalytically to obtain hydrocarbons.

[0095] 2. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step A) said biomass is of plant origin, the biomass preferably comprising or being derived from algae, oil crops, oil palms, soybeans, rapeseed, mustard, flax, cottonseed, sunflower, corn, hemp, field pennycress, pongamia, jatropha, macauba palms, ma- hua, camelina, salicornia, carinata, Esenbeckia, lignocellulose, wood, forestry residues, agricultural residues, crop residues, residues from vegetable oil production, green waste, food waste, and used vegetable cooking oil.

[0096] 3. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step A) the mass fraction of said seeds and / or fruits in the biomass provided is at least 25 %, preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %.

[0097] 4. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step A) said biomass consists of seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs.

[0098] 5. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step A) said biomass is of plant origin and derived from plants of one clade, preferably of one family, more preferably of one genus, most preferably of one species.

[0099] 6. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step A) said trees and / or shrubs are perennial.

[0100] 7. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step A) said trees and / or shrubs are eudicots, preferably perennial eudicots.

[0101] 8. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step A) said trees and / or shrubs are selected from the group consisting of almond trees, cashew trees, Esenbeckia trees, hazel trees and / or shrubs, Jatropha trees and / or shrubs, macadamia trees, walnut trees, Brazil nut trees, and combinations thereof, preferably they are selected from the group consisting of almond trees, cashew trees, Esenbeckia trees, Jatropha trees and / or shrubs, macadamia trees, walnut trees, Brazil nut trees, and combinations thereof, more preferably from the group consisting of bitter almond trees, Jatropha trees and / or shrubs, black walnut trees, Brazil nut trees, and combinations thereof, most preferably they are Jatropha trees and / or shrubs, in particular Jatropha curcas trees and / or shrubs.

[0102] 9. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step A) said seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs are selected from the group consisting of almonds, cashew nuts, Esenbeckia seeds, hazel nuts, Jatropha seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, preferably they are selected from the group consisting of almonds, cashew nuts, Esenbeckia seeds, Jatropha seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, more preferably from the group consisting of bitter almonds, Jatropha seeds, black walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, most preferably they are Jatropha seeds, in particular seeds of Jatropha curcas.

[0103] 10. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step A) said seeds and / or fruits are inedible for humans. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein step A) comprises the sub-steps

[0104] A1 ) selecting a plantation site for trees and / or shrubs;

[0105] A2) sowing and / or planting trees and / or shrubs to establish a plantation at the selected plantation site;

[0106] A3) maintaining the plantation at least until said trees and / or shrubs form seeds and / or fruits;

[0107] A4) harvesting and / or collecting seeds and / or fruits of said trees and / or shrubs; and

[0108] A5) optionally mixing said seeds and / or fruits with biomass streams of other sources. process according to embodiment 11 , wherein in sub-step A1) the plantation site is selected according to at least one predefined criterion. process according to any one of embodiments 11 to 12, wherein in sub-step A1) the plantation site is selected according to at least one predefined criterion wherein the at least one predefined criterion is related to the local climate and / or to the soil characteristics and / or to the previous use of the land. process according to any one of embodiments 11 to 13, wherein in sub-step A1) the at least one predefined criterion is related to the local climate, preferably it is Al (UNEP) < 0.65, more preferably Al (UNEP) < 0.50, more preferably Al (UNEP) < 0.20, more preferably Al (UNEP) < 0.05, and / or the area is classified as subhumid, semi-arid, arid, or hyperarid. process according to any one of embodiments 11 to 14, wherein in sub-step A1) the at least one predefined criterion is related to the soil characteristics, e.g., to the metal contamination of the soil, preferably the at least one predefined criterion is selected from the group consisting of w (As) > 5 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (As) > 50 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (As) > 100 mg / kg (soil); w (Cd) > 1 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cd) > 10 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cd) > 20 mg / kg (soil); w (Cr) > 100 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cr) > 200 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cr) > 300 mg / kg (soil); w (Cu) > 100 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cu) > 150 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cu) > 200 mg / kg (soil); w (Hg) > 0.5 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Hg) > 2 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Hg) > 5 mg / kg (soil); w (Ni) > 50 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Ni) > 100 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Ni) > 150 mg / kg (soil); w (Pb) > 60 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Pb) > 200 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Pb) > 750 mg / kg (soil); w (Sn) > 40 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Sn) > 80 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Sn) > 120 mg / kg (soil); and w (Zn) > 200 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Zn) > 250 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Zn) > 400 mg / kg (soil); or from any combination thereof, wherein w designates the mass fraction of the respective metal within the soil; more preferably the at least one predefined criterion is selected from the group consisting of w (Cd) > 1 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cd) > 10 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cd) > 20 mg / kg (soil); w (Cr) > 100 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cr) > 200 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cr) > 300 mg / kg (soil); w (Hg) > 0.5 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Hg) > 2 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Hg) > 5 mg / kg (soil); w (Ni) > 50 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Ni) > 100 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Ni) > 150 mg / kg (soil); w (Sn) > 40 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Sn) > 80 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Sn) > 120 mg / kg (soil); and w (Zn) > 200 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Zn) > 250 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Zn) > 400 mg / kg (soil); or from any combination thereof, wherein w designates the mass fraction of the respective metal within the soil.

[0109] 16. The process according to any one of embodiments 11 to 15, wherein in sub-step A1) the at least one predefined criterion is related to the previous use of the land, preferably the at least one predefined criterion states that less or no vegetation of trees and / or shrubs has grown at the plantation site within the previous 20 years, more preferably within the previous 50 years, even more preferably within the previous 100 years, and / or the at least one predefined criterion states that the plantation site has not been used for agricultural or forestry purposes within the previous 20 years, more preferably within the previous 50 years, even more preferably within the previous 100 years.

[0110] 17. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step B) said processing comprises mechanical and physical operations and / or chemical processes, optionally also the separation of the obtained product stream from any by-products.

[0111] 18. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step B) said processing comprises pressing, extraction, pyrolysis, and / or hydrothermal liquefaction of the biomass provided in step A).

[0112] 19. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step B) said processing yields a product stream consisting of bio-oil.

[0113] 20. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step B) said processing comprises purification steps applied to the product stream.

[0114] 21 . The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step C) the product stream of step B) is hydrotreated catalytically either alone or in admixture with other feedstocks, preferably alone.

[0115] 22. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step C) the product stream of step B) is hydrotreated catalytically in admixture with other feedstocks, preferably with other feedstocks of renewable or recycled origin, wherein the mass fraction (w / w) of said product stream in the admixture is at least 25 %, preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, most preferably at least 90 %, wherein preferably the content of carbon atoms originating from biomass as used herein is determined via measurement of the14C mole fraction, more preferably according to DIN EN 16640:2017-08.

[0116] 23. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step C) at least a part of the hydrogen needed, preferably all of the hydrogen needed, for catalytic hydrotreatment is provided from renewable resources, preferably from reforming or pyrolysis of biogas, from cracking of green ammonia or of green methanol, or from water electrolysis, more preferably from water electrolysis powered by non-fossil electricity.

[0117] 24. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step C) the fraction of hydrogen needed for the catalytic hydrotreatment in step C) originating from fossil resources does not exceed 50 %, preferably does not exceed 30 %, more preferably does not exceed 20 %, most preferably does not exceed 10 %.

[0118] 25. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step C) the catalytic hydrotreatment comprises hydrocracking reactions, preferably in the presence of a bifunctional catalyst.

[0119] 26. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step C) the mass fraction of alkanes and alkyl residues with more than 9 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbons obtained in step C) is lower than the mass fraction of alkanes and alkyl chains with more than 9 carbon atoms in the product stream of step B).

[0120] 27. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step C) the hydrocarbons comprise one or more fractions selected from the group consisting of renewable diesel, renewable jet fuel, bio-naphtha, and bio-Ci-4-HCs, preferably they comprise a bio-naphtha fraction.

[0121] 28. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step C) the mass fraction of hydrocarbons originating from the seeds and / or fruits in the biomass provided in step A) in the hydrocarbons obtained in step C) is at least 25 %, preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %, wherein preferably the content of carbon atoms originating from biomass as used herein is determined via measurement of the14C mole fraction, more preferably according to DIN EN 16640:2017-08.

[0122] 29. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step C) the hydrocarbons obtained in step C) are derived exclusively from the seeds and / or fruits in the biomass provided in step A).

[0123] 30. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, the process further comprising step D) and optionally steps E) and / or F)

[0124] D) separating the hydrocarbons into different fractions;

[0125] E) subjecting the hydrocarbons and / or a fraction thereof to isomerization to obtain isomerized hydrocarbons; and / or

[0126] F) combining the hydrocarbons and / or a fraction thereof with the product stream of step B) to obtain a combined stream and hydrotreating the combined stream catalytically according to step C).

[0127] 31. The process according to embodiment 30, wherein in step D) separating the hydrocarbons is carried out by distillation.

[0128] 32. The process according to any one of embodiments 30 to 31, wherein in step D) the different fractions include at least one long-chain hydrocarbon fraction, in particular selected from HVO and SAF fractions, at least one bio-naphtha fraction, and / or at least one bio-Ci-4-HC fraction, preferably at least one bio-naphtha fraction.

[0129] 33. The process according to any one of embodiments 30 to 32, wherein in step E) said hydrocarbons and / or a fraction thereof comprise at least one bio-naphtha fraction. 34. The process according to any one of embodiments 30 to 33, wherein in step E) said isomerized hydrocarbons comprise at least one bio-naphtha fraction that exhibits a higher content of isoparaffins than the hydrocarbons subjected to isomerization.

[0130] 35. The process according to any one of embodiments 30 to 34, wherein in step F) said hydrocarbons and / or a fraction thereof comprise at least one long-chain hydrocarbon fraction, in particular selected from HVO and SAF fractions.

[0131] 36. The process according to any one of embodiments 30 to 35, wherein in step F) said hydrotreating includes hydrocracking reactions.

[0132] 37. A process for producing steam cracking products, the process comprising steps A), B), and C) according to any one of embodiments 1 to 29, the process further comprising step D) and optionally steps E) and / or F) according to any one of embodiments 30 to 36, the process further comprising the steps G) and H)

[0133] G) optionally blending the bio-naphtha fraction obtained in steps D) and / or E) with at least one further feedstock suitable for steam cracking to obtain a blend suitable for steam cracking; and

[0134] H) subjecting the bio-naphtha fraction obtained in steps D) and / or E) and / or, optionally, the blend of step G) to steam cracking to obtain steam cracking products.

[0135] 38. The process according to embodiment 37, wherein in step G) said at least one further feedstock suitable for steam cracking comprises fossil naphtha.

[0136] 39. The process according to any one of embodiments 37 to 38, wherein in step G) the blend suitable for steam cracking comprises at least 5 weight-%, preferably at least 10 weight-%, more preferably at least 20 weight-%, more preferably at least 30 weight-%, more preferably at least 40 weight-%, more preferably at least 50 weight-%, more preferably at least 60 weight-%, more preferably at least 70 weight-%, more preferably at least 80 weight-%, most preferably at least 90 weight-% of said bio-naphtha fraction.

[0137] 40. The process according to any one of embodiments 37 to 39, wherein in step H) said steam cracking products comprise one or more of olefins, preferably selected from ethylene, propylene, and C4 olefins, aromatic hydrocarbons, preferably selected from benzene, toluene, and xylenes, CM-HCS, and hydrogen.

[0138] 41 . The process according to any one of embodiments 37 to 40, the process optionally further comprising steps J), K), and / or L)

[0139] J) separating the steam cracking products of step H) to obtain at least one separate fraction of one or more olefins, preferably selected from ethylene, propylene, and C4 olefins, one or more aromatic hydrocarbons, preferably selected from benzene, toluene, and xylenes, one or more CM-HCS, and / or hydrogen;

[0140] K) using at least a part of the hydrocarbons obtained in steps C), of at least one hydrocarbon fraction obtained in step D), of the steam cracking products obtained in step H), and / or, optionally, of at least one fraction obtained in step J) as a fuel for firing the furnaces for steam cracking of step H); and / or L) using at least a part of the hydrogen obtained in steps H) and / or, optionally, J) for the hydrotreatment according to step C). process according to embodiment 41, wherein in step K) at least one bio-Ci^-HC fraction obtained in step D) and / or at least one C1.4-HC fraction obtained in step J) is used as a fuel for firing the furnaces for steam cracking of step H).) process according to any one of embodiments 41 to 42, wherein in step L) all of the hydrogen obtained in steps H) and / or J) is used for the hydrotreatment according to step C).rocess for obtaining a monomer, a polymer, or a polymer product, the process comprising steps A), B), and C) according to any one of embodiments 1 to 29, the process further comprising step D) and optionally steps E) and / or F) according to any one of embodiments 30 to 36, the process further comprising steps G) and H) according to any one of embodiments 37 to 40, the process optionally further comprising steps J), K), and / or L) according to any one of embodiments 41 to 43, the process further comprising step M)

[0141] M) converting the olefins and / or aromatic hydrocarbons obtained in steps H) and / or, optionally, J) and / or any other downstream products and / or chemical material obtainable by or obtained by the process according to any one of the preceding embodiments to obtain a monomer, polymer, or polymer product. process according to embodiment 44, wherein the monomer is a di- or polyol; preferably butanediol; aldehyde; preferably formaldehyde; di- or polyisocyanate; preferably methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI), hexamethylenediisocyanate (HDI) or isophoronediisocyanate (IPDI); amide; preferably caprolactam; alkene; preferably styrene, ethene and norbornene; alkyne, (di)ester; preferably methyl methacrylate; mono or diacid; preferably adipic acid or terephthalic acid; diamine; preferably hexamethylenediamine, nonanediamine; or sulfones; preferably 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone. process according to any one of embodiments 44 to 45, wherein the polymer is and / or the polymer product comprises polyamide (PA); preferably PA 6 or PA 66; polyisocyanate polyaddition product; preferably polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyurea or polyisocyanurate (PIR); low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polystyrene (PS), poly acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), poly styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), poly acrylate styrene acrylonitrile (ASA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polybutadiene (BR, PBD), poly(cis-1,4-isoprene), poly(trans-1,4-isoprene), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polybutylene adipate coterephthalate (PBAT), polyester (PES), polyether sulfone (PESU), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB), poly-4-hy- droxybutyrate (P4HB), polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV), polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHH), polyhydroxyoctanoate (PHO), polylactic acid (PLA), polysulfone (PSU), polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), polycarbonate (PC), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), poly(p-phenylene oxide) (PPO), poly(p-phenylene ether) (PPE); or copolymer or mixture thereof. process according to any one of embodiments 44 to 46, wherein the polymer and / or the polymer product is / are or is / are a part of: a car; preferably bellow, cylinder head cover, engine cover, housing for charge air cooler, charge air cooler flap, coating, cover, elevator load bearing assembly, foil, fiber, film, foam, damping element, drive belts for machines, intake pipe, intake manifold, connector, gasket, gear wheel, fan wheel, cooling water box, hose, housing, housing part for heat exchanger, coolant cooler, charge air cooler, laminate, middle sole of a shoe, lining in vehicles, modifier for thermoplastic materials, molded body, roofing or flooring for buildings or vehicles, non-woven fabric, packaging material, passenger conveyer, handrails for passenger conveyers, profile, roll, roping arrangements, saddle, shoe sole, strap, thermostat, water pump, radiator, fastening part, part of battery system for electromobility, dashboard, pillow, steering column switch, seat, headrest, center console, transmission component, door module, A, B, C or D pillar cover, spoiler, door handle, exterior mirror, windscreen wiper, windscreen wiper protection housing, wiper blade, decorative grill, cover strip, roof rail, window frame, sunroof frame, antenna panel, headlight and taillight, engine cover, cylinder head cover, intake manifold, airbag, cushion, or coating; a cloth; preferably shirt, trousers, pullover, boot, shoe, shoe sole, tight or jacket; an electrical part; preferably electrical or electronic passive or active component, cable, cable connector, cable sheeting cell-phone, circuit board, printed circuit board, housing component, foil, line, switch, plug, socket, distributor, relay, resistor, capacitor, inductor, bobbin, lamp, diode, LED, transistor, connector, regulator, integrated circuit (IC), processor, controller, memory, sensor, microswitch, microbutton, semiconductor, reflector housing for light-emitting diodes (LED), fastener for electrical or electronic component, solar module, spacer, bolt, strip, slide-in guide, screw, nut, television, trailing cable, film hinge, snap hook (snap-in), or spring tongue; a consumer, agricultural product or pharmaceutical product; preferably tennis string, climbing rope, bristle, brush, artificial grass, 3D printing filament, grass trimmer, zipper, hook and loop fastener, paper machine clothing, extrusion coating, fishing line, fishing net, offshore line and rope, vial, syringe, ampoule, bottle, sliding element, spindle nut, chain conveyor, plain bearing, roller, wheel, gear, roller, ring gear, screw and spring dampers, hose, pipeline, cable sheathing, socket, switch, cable tie, fan wheel, carpet, box or bottle for cosmetics, mattress, cushion, insulation, detergent, dishwasher tabs or powder, shampoo, body wash, shower gel, soap, fertilizer, fungicide, or pesticide; a packaging preferably for the food industry; preferably mono- or multi-layer film, preferably blown or cast film (mono- or multi-layer), bi axi ally stretched film, or laminating film; or a part of a construction; preferably a rotor blade, insulating material, frame, housing, wall, coating, or separating wall. process according to any one of embodiments 44 to 47, wherein the content of the hydrocarbons obtained in steps C), D), or E) in the monomer, polymer and / or polymer product is 1 weight-% or more, preferably 2 weight-% or more, more preferably 5 weight-% or more, more preferably 15 weight-% or more, more preferably 30 weight-% or more, more preferably 40 weight-% or more, more preferably 60 weight-% or more, more preferably 80 weight-% or more, more preferably 90 weight-% or more, more preferably 95 weight-% or more; and / or wherein the content of the hydrocarbons obtained in steps C), D), or E) in the monomer, polymer and / or polymer product is 100 weight-% or less, preferably 95 weight-% or less, more preferably 90 weight-% or less, more preferably 50 weight-% or less, more preferably 25 weight-% or less, more preferably 10 weight-% or less; and preferably wherein the content is determined based on identity preservation and / or segregation and / or mass balance and / or book and claim chain of custody models, preferably based on mass balance, preferably the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) standard.

[0142] 49. A process for producing a product stream comprising bio-oil from biomass, the process comprising the steps

[0143] A) providing biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs, step A) comprising the sub-steps

[0144] A1) selecting a plantation site for trees and / or shrubs;

[0145] A2) sowing and / or planting trees and / or shrubs to establish a plantation at the selected plantation site;

[0146] A3) maintaining the plantation at least until said trees and / or shrubs form seeds and / or fruits;

[0147] A4) harvesting and / or collecting seeds and / or fruits of said trees and / or shrubs; and

[0148] A5) optionally mixing said seeds and / or fruits with biomass streams of other sources; and

[0149] B) processing said biomass into a product stream comprising bio-oil.

[0150] 50. The process according to embodiment 49, wherein in sub-step A1) the plantation site is selected according to at least one predefined criterion.

[0151] 51 . The process according to any one of embodiments 49 to 50, wherein in sub-step A1) the plantation site is selected according to at least one predefined criterion, wherein the at least one predefined criterion is related to the local climate and / or to the soil characteristics and / or to the previous use of the land.

[0152] 52. The process according to any one of embodiments 49 to 51, wherein in sub-step A1) the at least one predefined criterion is related to the local climate, preferably it is Al (UNEP) < 0.65, more preferably Al (UNEP) < 0.50, most preferably Al (UNEP) < 0.20 or Al (UNEP) < 0.05, and / or the area is classified as subhumid, semi-arid, arid, or hyperarid.

[0153] 53. The process according to any one of embodiments 49 to 52, wherein in sub-step A1) the at least one predefined criterion is related to the soil characteristics, e.g., to the metal contamination of the soil, preferably the at least one predefined criterion is selected from the group consisting of w (As) > 5 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (As) > 50 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (As) > 100 mg / kg (soil); w (Cd) > 1 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cd) > 10 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cd) > 20 mg / kg (soil); w (Cr) > 100 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cr) > 200 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cr) > 300 mg / kg (soil); w (Cu) > 100 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cu) > 150 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cu) > 200 mg / kg (soil); w (Hg) > 0.5 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Hg) > 2 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Hg) > 5 mg / kg (soil); w (Ni) > 50 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Ni) > 100 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Ni) > 150 mg / kg (soil); w (Pb) > 60 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Pb) > 200 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Pb) > 750 mg / kg (soil); w (Sn) > 40 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Sn) > 80 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Sn) > 120 mg / kg (soil); and w (Zn) > 200 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Zn) > 250 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Zn) > 400 mg / kg (soil); or from any combination thereof, wherein w designates the mass fraction of the respective metal within the soil; more preferably the at least one predefined criterion is selected from the group consisting of w (Cd) > 1 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cd) > 10 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cd) > 20 mg / kg (soil); w (Cr) > 100 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cr) > 200 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cr) > 300 mg / kg (soil); w (Hg) > 0.5 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Hg) > 2 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Hg) > 5 mg / kg (soil); w (Ni) > 50 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Ni) > 100 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Ni) > 150 mg / kg (soil); w (Sn) > 40 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Sn) > 80 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Sn) > 120 mg / kg (soil); and w (Zn) > 200 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Zn) > 250 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Zn) > 400 mg / kg (soil); or from any combination thereof, wherein w designates the mass fraction of the respective metal within the soil.

[0154] 54. The process according to any one of embodiments 49 to 53, wherein in sub-step A1) the at least one predefined criterion is related to the previous use of the land, preferably the at least one predefined criterion states that less or no vegetation of trees and / or shrubs has grown at the plantation site within the previous 20 years, more preferably within the previous 50 years, even more preferably within the previous 100 years, and / or the at least one predefined criterion states that the plantation site has not been used for agricultural or forestry purposes within the previous 20 years, more preferably within the previous 50 years, even more preferably within the previous 100 years.

[0155] 55. The process according to any one of embodiments 49 to 54, wherein in step B) said processing comprises mechanical and physical operations and / or chemical processes, optionally also the separation of the obtained product stream from any by-products.

[0156] 56. The process according to any one of embodiments 49 to 55, wherein in step B) said processing comprises pressing, extraction, pyrolysis, and / or hydrothermal liquefaction of the biomass provided in step A).

[0157] 57. The process according to any one of embodiments 49 to 56, wherein in step B) said processing yields a product stream consisting of bio-oil.

[0158] 58. The process according to any one of embodiments 49 to 57, wherein in step B) said processing comprises purification steps applied to the product stream.

[0159] 59. The process according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein in step A) at least one plantation by-product and / or in step B) at least one processing by-product is generated, the process further comprising step N)

[0160] N) using at least a part of the at least one plantation by-product of step A) and / or of the at least one processing by-product of step B) for preparing a combustion fuel, preferably further using said combustion fuel for providing energy to any one of the process steps described in any of the preceding claims. A product or product stream, in particular selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, isomerized hydrocarbons, fractions thereof, preferably a naphtha fraction thereof, bio-naphtha, blends suitable for steam cracking comprising bio-naphtha, downstream products of hydrocarbons, steam cracking products, preferably olefins and / or aromatic hydrocarbons, more preferably the olefins being selected from ethylene, propylene, and C4 olefins, and the aromatic hydrocarbons being selected from benzene, toluene, and xylenes, monomers, polymers, and polymer products obtained from hydrocarbons, characterized in that they are obtained or obtainable from a process according to any one of the preceding embodiments. Hydrocarbons and / or isomerized hydrocarbons and / or fractions thereof, preferably a naphtha fraction thereof, characterized in that at least 10 %, preferably at least 20 %, more preferably at least 30 %, more preferably at least 40 %, more preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %, more preferably at least 95 % of the carbon atoms originate from biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs, wherein preferably the content of carbon atoms originating from biomass as used herein is determined via measurement of the14C mole fraction, more preferably according to DIN EN 16640:2017-08. -naphtha, characterized in that at least 10 %, preferably at least 20 %, more preferably at least 30 %, more preferably at least 40 %, more preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %, more preferably at least 95 % of the carbon atoms originate from biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs, wherein preferably the content of carbon atoms originating from biomass as used herein is determined via measurement of the14C mole fraction, more preferably according to DIN EN 16640:2017-08. A blend suitable for steam cracking comprising bio-naphtha and at least one further feedstock suitable for steam cracking, characterized in that at least 10 %, preferably at least 20 %, more preferably at least 30 %, more preferably at least 40 %, more preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %, more preferably at least 95 % of the carbon atoms originate from biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs, wherein preferably the content of carbon atoms originating from biomass as used herein is determined via measurement of the14C mole fraction, more preferably according to DIN EN 16640:2017-08. 64. The blend according to embodiment 63, wherein said at least one further feedstock suitable for steam cracking comprises fossil naphtha.

[0161] 65. The blend according to any one of embodiments 63 to 64, the blend comprising at least 5 weight-%, preferably at least 10 weight-%, more preferably at least 20 weight- %, more preferably at least 30 weight-%, more preferably at least 40 weight-%, more preferably at least 50 weight-%, more preferably at least 60 weight-%, more preferably at least 70 weight-%, more preferably at least 80 weight-%, most preferably at least 90 weight-% of bio-naphtha.

[0162] 66. A downstream product of hydrocarbons, characterized in that at least 10 %, preferably at least 20 %, more preferably at least 30 %, more preferably at least 40 %, more preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %, more preferably at least 95 % of the carbon atoms originate from biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs, wherein preferably the content of carbon atoms originating from biomass as used herein is determined via measurement of the14C mole fraction, more preferably according to DIN EN 16640:2017-08.

[0163] 67. A steam cracking product, preferably an olefin and / or an aromatic hydrocarbon, more preferably the olefin being selected from ethylene, propylene, and C4 olefins, and the aromatic hydrocarbon being selected from benzene, toluene, and xylenes, characterized in that at least 10 %, preferably at least 20 %, more preferably at least 30 %, more preferably at least 40 %, more preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %, more preferably at least 95 % of the carbon atoms originate from biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs, wherein preferably the content of carbon atoms originating from biomass as used herein is determined via measurement of the14C mole fraction, more preferably according to DIN EN 16640:2017-08.

[0164] 68. A monomer, a polymer, or a polymer product obtained from hydrocarbons, characterized in that at least 10 %, preferably at least 20 %, more preferably at least 30 %, more preferably at least 40 %, more preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %, more preferably at least 95 % of the carbon atoms originate from biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs, wherein preferably the content of carbon atoms originating from biomass as used herein is determined via measurement of the14C mole fraction, more preferably according to DIN EN 16640:2017-08.

[0165] 69. The hydrocarbons and / or isomerized hydrocarbons and / or fractions thereof according to embodiment 61 ; the bio-naphtha according to embodiment 62; the blend according to any one of embodiments 63 to 65; the downstream product according to embodiment 66; the steam cracking product according to embodiment 67; or the monomer, polymer, or polymer product according to embodiment 68, wherein the mass fraction (w / w) of said seeds and / or fruits in said biomass is at least 25 %, preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %, most preferably at least 95 %. The hydrocarbons and / or isomerized hydrocarbons and / or fractions thereof according to any one of embodiments 61 and 69; the bio-naphtha according to any one of embodiments 62 and 69; the blend according to any one of embodiments 63 to 65 and 69; the downstream product according to any one of embodiments 66 and 69; the steam cracking product according to any one of embodiments 67 and 69; or the monomer, polymer, or polymer product according to any one of embodiments 68 and 69, wherein said trees and / or shrubs are eudicots, preferably perennial eudicots. The hydrocarbons and / or isomerized hydrocarbons and / or fractions thereof according to any one of embodiments 61 and 69 to 70; the bio-naphtha according to any one of embodiments 62 and 69 to 70; the blend according to any one of embodiments 63 to 65 and 69 to 70; the downstream product according to any one of embodiments 66 and 69 to 70; the steam cracking product according to any one of embodiments 67 and 69 to 70; or the monomer, polymer, or polymer product according to any one of embodiments 68 to 70, wherein said seeds and / or fruits are selected from the group consisting of almonds, cashew nuts, Esenbeckia seeds, hazel nuts, Jatropha seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, preferably from the group consisting of almonds, cashew nuts, Esenbeckia seeds, Jatropha seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, more preferably from the group consisting of bitter almonds, Jatropha seeds, black walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, most preferably they are Jatropha seeds, in particular seeds of Jatropha curcas. Hydrocarbons, isomerized hydrocarbons, fractions thereof, bio-naphtha, blends suitable for steam cracking comprising bio-naphtha, downstream products of hydrocarbons, steam cracking products, preferably olefins and / or aromatic hydrocarbons, more preferably the olefins being selected from ethylene, propylene, and C4 olefins, and the aromatic hydrocarbons being selected from benzene, toluene, and xylenes, monomers, polymers, and polymer products obtained from hydrocarbons, characterized in that their carbon atoms originate from seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs selected from the group consisting of almonds, cashew nuts, Esenbeckia seeds, hazel nuts, Jatropha seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, preferably from the group consisting of almonds, cashew nuts, Esenbeckia seeds, Jatropha seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, more preferably from the group consisting of bitter almonds, Esenbeckia seeds, Jatropha seeds, black walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, most preferably they are Jatropha seeds, in particular seeds of Jatropha curcas.

Claims

Claims1. A process for producing hydrocarbons comprising a bio-naphtha fraction from biomass, the process comprising the stepsA) providing biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs;B) processing said biomass into a product stream comprising bio-oil wherein said processing comprises mechanical and physical operations and / or chemical processes, preferably selected from the group consisting of pressing, extraction, pyrolysis, and / or hydrothermal liquefaction of the biomass provided in step A); andC) hydrotreating said product stream catalytically to obtain hydrocarbons.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein in step A) said trees and / or shrubs are perennial and / or are eudicots.

3. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step A) said seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs are selected from the group consisting of almonds, cashew nuts, Esenbeckia seeds, hazel nuts, Jatropha seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, preferably they are selected from the group consisting of almonds, cashew nuts, Esenbeckia seeds, Jatropha seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, more preferably from the group consisting of bitter almonds, Esenbeckia seeds, Jatropha seeds, black walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, preferably they are Jatropha seeds, in particular seeds of Jatropha curcas.

4. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein step A) comprises the sub-stepsA1) selecting a plantation site for trees and / or shrubs according to at least one predefined criterion wherein the at least one predefined criterion is related to the local climate and / or to the soil characteristics and / or to the previous use of the land;A2) sowing and / or planting trees and / or shrubs to establish a plantation at the selected plantation site;A3) maintaining the plantation at least until said trees and / or shrubs form seeds and / or fruits;A4) harvesting and / or collecting seeds and / or fruits of said trees and / or shrubs; andA5) optionally mixing said seeds and / or fruits with biomass streams of other sources.

5. The process according to claim 4 wherein in sub-step A1) the at least one predefined criterion is related to the local climate and it is aridity index < 0.20 and / or the at least one predefined criterion is related to the previous use of the land and it states that the plantation site has not been used for agricultural or forestry purposes within the previous 50 years.

6. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step C) the catalytic hydrotreatment comprises hydrocracking reactions, preferably in the presence of a bifunctional catalyst.

7. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, the process further comprising step D), E), and / or F)D) separating the hydrocarbons into different fractions selected from the group consisting of renewable diesel, renewable jet fuel, bio-naphtha, and bio-Cu-HCs;E) subjecting the bio-naphtha fraction from step D) to isomerization to obtain an isomerized bio-naphtha fraction; and / orF) combining the renewable diesel and / or renewable jet fuel fraction from step D) with the product stream of step B) to obtain a combined stream and hydrotreating the combined stream catalytically according to step C).

8. A process for producing steam cracking products, the process comprising steps A), B), and C) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the process further comprising step D) and optionally steps E) and / or F) according to claim 7, the process further comprising the steps G) and H)G) blending the bio-naphtha fraction obtained in steps D) and / or E) with at least one further feedstock suitable for steam cracking to obtain a blend suitable for steam cracking; andH) subjecting the blend of step G) to steam cracking to obtain steam cracking products.

9. The process according to claim 8, the process optionally further comprising steps J) and L)J) separating the steam cracking products of step H) to obtain at least one separate fraction of one or more olefins, one or more aromatic hydrocarbons, one or more CM-HCS, and / or hydrogen andL) using at least a part of the hydrogen obtained in steps H) and / or, optionally, J) for the hydrotreatment according to step C).

10. A process for obtaining a monomer, a polymer, or a polymer product, the process comprising steps A), B), and C) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the process further comprising step D) and optionally steps E) and / or F) according to claim 7, the process further comprising steps G) and H) according to claim 8, the process optionally further comprising steps J), K), and / or L) according to claim 9, the process further comprising step M)M) converting the olefins and / or aromatic hydrocarbons obtained in steps H) and / or, optionally, J) and / or any other downstream products and / or chemical material obtainable by or obtained by the process according to any one of the preceding claims to obtain a monomer, polymer, or polymer product.11 . A process for producing a product stream comprising bio-oil from biomass, the process comprising the stepsA) providing biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs, step A) comprising the sub-stepsA1) selecting a plantation site for trees and / or shrubs, according to at least one predefined criterion wherein the at least one predefined criterion is related to the local climate and / or to the soil characteristics and / or to the previous use of the land;A2) sowing and / or planting trees and / or shrubs to establish a plantation at the selected plantation site;A3) maintaining the plantation at least until said trees and / or shrubs form seeds and / or fruits;A4) harvesting and / or collecting seeds and / or fruits of said trees and / or shrubs; andA5) optionally mixing said seeds and / or fruits with biomass streams of other sources; andB) processing said biomass into a product stream comprising bio-oil wherein said processing comprises mechanical and physical operations and / or chemical processes.

12. A process for producing bio-naphtha, the process comprising the stepsA) providing biomass comprising Jatropha seeds, step A) comprising the sub-stepsA1) selecting a plantation site for Jatropha trees and / or shrubs; wherein the plantation site is selected according to at least one predefined criterion related to the metal contamination of the soil, the at least one predefined criterion being selected from the group consisting of w (Cd) > 1 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cd) > 10 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cd) > 20 mg / kg (soil); w (Cr) > 100 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Cr) > 200 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Cr) > 300 mg / kg (soil); w (Hg) > 0.5 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Hg) > 2 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Hg) > 5 mg / kg (soil); w (Ni) > 50 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Ni) > 100 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Ni) > 150 mg / kg (soil); w (Sn) > 40 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Sn) > 80 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Sn) > 120 mg / kg (soil); and w (Zn) > 200 mg / kg (soil), preferably w (Zn) > 250 mg / kg (soil), more preferably w (Zn) > 400 mg / kg (soil); or from any combination thereof, wherein w designates the mass fraction of the respective metal within the soil;A2) sowing and / or planting Jatropha trees and / or shrubs to establish a plantation at the selected plantation site;A3) maintaining the plantation at least until said Jatropha trees and / or shrubs form Jatropha seeds;A4) harvesting and / or collecting Jatropha seeds; andA5) optionally mixing said Jatropha seeds with biomass streams of other sources;B) processing said biomass into a product stream comprising bio-oil, wherein said processing comprises pressing and / or extraction of the Jatropha seeds provided in step A);C) hydrotreating said product stream catalytically to obtain hydrocarbons, wherein the catalytic hydrotreatment comprises hydrocracking reactions;D) separating by distillation the hydrocarbons into different fractions, comprising at least one bio-naphtha fraction; andE) optionally subjecting said at least one bio-naphtha fraction to isomerization to obtain at least one isomerized bio-naphtha fraction.

13. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step A) at least one plantation by-product and / or in step B) at least one processing by-product is generated, the process further comprising step N)N) using at least a part of the at least one plantation by-product of step A) and / or of the at least one processing by-product of step B) for preparing a combustion fuel, preferably further using said combustion fuel for providing energy to any one of the process steps described in any of the preceding claims.

14. Hydrocarbons, isomerized hydrocarbons, fractions thereof, bio-naphtha, and / or a steam cracking product, preferably an olefin and / or an aromatic hydrocarbon, characterized in that at least 10 %, preferably at least 20 %, more preferably at least 30 %, more preferably at least 40 %, more preferably at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %, more preferably at least 95 % of the carbon atoms originate from biomass comprising seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs.

15. Hydrocarbons, isomerized hydrocarbons, fractions thereof, bio-naphtha, and / or a steam cracking product, preferably an olefin and / or an aromatic hydrocarbon, characterized in that their carbon atoms originate from seeds and / or fruits of trees and / or shrubs selected from the group consisting of almonds, cashew nuts, Esenbeckia seeds, hazel nuts, Jatropha seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, preferably from the group consisting of almonds, cashew nuts, Esenbeckia seeds, Jatropha seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, more preferably from the group consisting of bitter almonds, Esenbeckia seeds, Jatropha seeds, black walnuts, Brazil nuts, and mixtures thereof, most preferably they are Jatropha seeds, in particular seeds of Jatropha curcas.

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