Pyrolysis Unit Aromatics Production via RWGS Fermentation Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aromatic complexes in the petrochemical industry are unable to efficiently produce biobased aromatics and fail to upgrade carbon in the form of CO and CO2 by-products into high-value compounds, relying predominantly on oil or natural gas feedstocks.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a reverse water gas shift (RWGS) unit to convert CO2 into CO, followed by a fermentation process to produce ethanol, which is then recycled to the pyrolysis unit to enhance the production of aromatic compounds, allowing for the conversion of CO and CO2 by-products into additional aromatic and paraffin compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If aromatic complexes use conventional pyrolysis processes, then aromatic compounds are produced, but CO and CO2 by-products are generated without being upgraded
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful CO and CO2 by-products from pyrolysis into valuable aromatic compounds through a multi-step process: RWGS conversion of CO2 to CO, fermentation of CO to ethanol, and pyrolysis of ethanol to aromatics. This transforms waste carbon into high-value products, resolving the contradiction between aromatic production and carbon loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding CO and CO2 as waste streams, the invention recovers carbon from these by-products and reintroduces it into the aromatic production cycle. The carbon is recovered through sequential conversion steps and fed back to the pyrolysis unit, eliminating substance loss while maintaining aromatic production.
2Reliability
If aromatic complexes rely on oil or natural gas feedstocks, then stable aromatic production is achieved, but biobased aromatic production is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adds multi-functionality to the pyrolysis unit, enabling it to process both conventional hydrocarbon feedstocks and biobased ethanol. This allows the aromatic complex to maintain reliable production from traditional feedstocks while gaining the versatility to produce biobased aromatics, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces ethanol as an intermediary substance that bridges conventional and biobased production pathways. Ethanol can be produced from biobased sources via fermentation of CO (which comes from pyrolysis gas), then fed to the pyrolysis unit to generate biobased aromatics. This intermediary enables flexible feedstock selection while maintaining process stability.
3Device complexity
If CO and CO2 by-products are not converted, then process simplicity is maintained, but carbon upgrade to high-value compounds is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary conversion of CO2 to CO via RWGS reaction before fermentation. This preliminary action prepares the carbon in a more reactive form (CO instead of CO2), facilitating subsequent fermentation to ethanol and final conversion to aromatics. The staged approach manages complexity while achieving high carbon upgrade efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a continuous carbon conversion cycle where CO and CO2 from pyrolysis are continuously converted to ethanol via fermentation, which is then continuously fed back to pyrolysis for aromatic production. This continuous cyclic process maximizes carbon utilization efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity through integrated recycling.
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 approach significantly increases the production of aromatics by pyrolysis of hydrocarbon compounds, upgrading CO and CO2 by-products into high-value compounds, particularly increasing para-xylene production and achieving gains of up to 40% by weight of aromatic compounds.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a reverse water gas shift (RWGS) unit to convert CO2 into CO
Implementation Method 2
followed by a fermentation process to produce ethanol
Implementation Method 3
significantly increases the production of aromatics by pyrolysis of hydrocarbon compounds
Data Source
AI summary
Device and process for the conversion of a feedstock of aromatic compounds, in which the feedstock is treated notably by means of a fractionation train (4-7), a xylene separation unit (10) and an isomerization unit (11), and in which a pyrolysis unit (13) treats a second hydrocarbon feedstock, produces a pyrolysis effluent feeding the feedstock, and produces a pyrolysis gas comprising CO, CO2 and H2; a reverse water gas shift RWGS reaction section (50) treats the pyrolysis gas and produces an RWGS gas enriched in CO and in water; a fermentation reaction section (52) treats the RWGS gas enriched in CO and in water, to produce ethanol and recycle the ethanol to the inlet of the pyrolysis unit.