Biomass Pyrolysis Oil Fractionation via Solvent-Anti-Solvent Phase Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for upgrading pyrolysis oil (PO) face challenges such as high hydrogen consumption, thermal instability, corrosiveness, and inefficient phase separation, limiting its large-scale production and commercial applications due to high water content, oxygen content, and incompatibility with fossil fuels.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the addition of an anti-solvent and a solvent to PO, followed by mixing and settling to achieve phase separation into a hydrophobic aromatic fraction (HAF) and a concentrated aqueous solution of water-soluble organics, using a solvent like butyl acetate with specific ratios and conditions to minimize energy consumption and equipment costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hydrodeoxygenation or hydrocracking is used to upgrade pyrolysis oil, then fuel quality is improved, but hydrogen consumption becomes very high and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes oxygen-containing compounds from pyrolysis oil through phase separation and washing processes, avoiding the need for hydrogen-intensive hydrodeoxygenation. The oxygenated organics are separated into an aqueous phase and removed, achieving fuel upgrading without high hydrogen consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses an intermediary organic solvent to facilitate phase separation between the hydrophobic aromatic fraction and water-soluble organics. This intermediary enables efficient separation of oxygenated compounds without requiring hydrogen, thus reducing hydrogen consumption while improving fuel quality
2Reliability
If two-stage hydroprocessing is used to upgrade pyrolysis oil, then product properties are improved, but capital cost and reaction time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the upgrading process into distinct operational steps: phase separation, washing, and filtration, rather than using multiple reactors in series. This reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for two separate reactors while still achieving improved product properties through systematic processing
Solution Approach 2:
The invention allows the pyrolysis oil to undergo spontaneous phase separation based on its composition, where oxygenated compounds naturally separate into an aqueous phase. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for complex processing equipment and reaction time, while still achieving product property improvement
3Stability of the object's composition
If pyrolysis oil is stored for prolonged periods, then phase separation occurs and viscosity increases, but fuel usability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary phase separation and removal of oxygenated compounds before storage. By extracting and removing the components that cause phase separation and viscosity increase during storage, the fuel achieves long-term storage stability without deterioration of usability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful phase separation tendency into a beneficial separation process. The natural phase separation behavior of pyrolysis oil is harnessed to separate and remove oxygenated compounds, transforming what would be a storage problem into an upgrading opportunity that actually improves fuel stability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process effectively reduces energy consumption and equipment costs, achieving a volume reduction of greater than 50:1 for HAF, facilitating easier processing and producing high-quality fuel and chemical precursors with reduced water content and improved stability.
Implementation Method 1
a process involving the addition of an anti-solvent and a solvent to PO, followed by mixing and settling to achieve phase separation into a hydrophobic aromatic fraction (HAF) and a concentrated aqueous solution of water-soluble organics, using a solvent like butyl acetate
Implementation Method 2
settling the mixture to allow phase separation into two fractions
Implementation Method 3
hydrophobic aromatic fraction (HAF) and a concentrated aqueous solution of water-soluble organics
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a novel process for fractionating biomass pyrolysis oil quantitatively into energy dense hydrophobic aromatic fraction and water-soluble organics in an economical and energy efficient manner. Using the concepts of solvents and anti-solvent behaviors to separate the pyrolysis oil, which is an emulsion, a method utilizing minimal quantities of solvents and water is proposed, by comparison with the existing methods to isolate the hydrophobic aromatic fraction, there is a volume reduction of greater than 50:1. Additionally, there is a significant time saving over the 24 hours for the accepted method as a solvent, and the anti-solvent system is spontaneous.