Stable Bio-Oil Composition via Controlled Pyrolysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biomass conversion processes produce low-quality bio-oils with high oxygen content, requiring extensive secondary upgrading, and pyrolysis-derived bio-oils are unstable and corrosive, necessitating deoxygenating processes like hydrotreating for usability as fuels.
Innovation Solution
A thermally stable bio-oil composition is produced from cellulosic biomass by converting biomass in an oxygen-poor environment with a catalyst at temperatures between 200° C to 1000° C, resulting in a bio-oil with reduced oxygen, water, and acid content, without the need for hydrotreating, characterized by an oxygen content no greater than 30 weight percent, water content less than 6 weight percent, and a Conradson Carbon number of less than 25 weight percent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biomass conversion processes are used to produce bio-oil, then renewable fuel is obtained, but the bio-oil contains high amounts of oxygen making it unstable and corrosive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the oxygen content to be no greater than 30 weight percent, water content to be less than 6 weight percent, and total acid number to be no greater than 30 mg KOH/g. These parameter specifications transform the bio-oil from an unstable, high-oxygen product into a stable fuel suitable for transportation and storage without requiring extensive secondary upgrading processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by specifying particular compositional characteristics for different aspects of the bio-oil: oxygen content control for stability, water content control for corrosiveness reduction, and acid number control for handling properties. This localized optimization of specific properties allows the bio-oil to meet fuel standards without complete deoxygenation
2Productivity
If fast pyrolysis is used to produce bio-oil, then high yields of liquid products are obtained, but the bio-oil requires extensive secondary upgrading to be utilized as fuels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-controlling the oxygen and water content during the pyrolysis process itself, rather than requiring post-production upgrading. By establishing the correct compositional parameters (oxygen ≤30 wt%, water <6 wt%) during the primary conversion process, the need for extensive secondary upgrading equipment and processes is eliminated
3Reliability
If deoxygenating processes like hydrotreating are applied to bio-oil, then fuel quality is improved, but processing costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the conventional approach: instead of producing high-oxygen bio-oil and then removing oxygen through complex hydrotreating processes, the method directly produces bio-oil with controlled low oxygen content (≤30 wt%) through optimized pyrolysis parameters. This inverts the process sequence, eliminating the need for deoxygenating equipment while achieving the same fuel quality goals
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
The bio-oil composition exhibits enhanced stability and reduced corrosiveness, making it suitable for use as a fuel without further processing and suitable for further chemical processing, with improved thermal stability and lower ash content, thus overcoming the limitations of prior art bio-oils.
Implementation Method 1
converting at least a portion of the cellulosic biomass material in an oxygen-poor environment in the presence of a catalyst material at a temperature in the range of from about 200° C. to about 1000° C.
Implementation Method 2
in the presence of a catalyst material
Data Source
AI summary
More stable and valuable bio-oil compositions produced from biomasses are provided. Particularly, various embodiments of the present invention provide for a bio-oil composition that has chemical and physical properties that make it more cost effective and useful as a fuel without having to undergo deoxygenating processes such as hydrotreating.