Integrated BIO-refinery for BIO-p-xylene with internal BIO-ethylene production
An integrated process converts biomass to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and dimethylfuran, using internally generated ethylene to produce p-xylene efficiently and cost-effectively, addressing inefficiencies in current biomass-to-p-xylene methods and reducing emissions.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- UOP LLC
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
Current methods for producing p-xylene from biomass are inefficient and costly due to low yields, reactor fouling issues, and high greenhouse gas emissions, with bio-based chemicals being at a significant cost disadvantage compared to petroleum-derived products.
An integrated process that converts biomass to sugars, which are then converted to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and subsequently to dimethylfuran (DMF), using internally generated de-watered, unpurified ethylene, which is reacted with DMF in the presence of a second acid catalyst to produce p-xylene, avoiding the need for expensive purification and reducing feedstock costs.
This process achieves high yield and cost-effective production of polymer-grade p-xylene, reducing reliance on petroleum and lowering greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing biomass-derived sugars and ethylene, without the need for costly purification steps.
Smart Images
Figure US2025057512_18062026_PF_FP_ABST