Liquefaction Process

Abstract

A process for producing a fuel product from biomass that includes providing a biomass feedstock to a high-shear mixer, mixing the biomass feedstock in the mixer in the absence of oxygen and under conditions sufficient to undergo liquefaction, and re-circulating and blending the liquefied biomass with the biomass feedstock.

1 . A process for producing a fuel product from biomass, comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing a biomass feedstock to a high-shear mixer;   (b) mixing said biomass feedstock in said mixer in the absence of oxygen and under conditions sufficient for the biomass to undergo liquefaction, thereby forming liquefied biomass; and   (c) re-circulating and blending at least a portion of said liquefied biomass with said feedstock biomass.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said biomass feedstock is a solid organic-waste material. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said organic-waste material includes a cellulosic constituent. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein said cellulosic constituent is wood. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said high-shear mixer is a high-shear screw extruder system. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said biomass feedstock and said liquefied biomass are co-mingled prior to introduction into said mixer. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the liquefied biomass is heated prior to co-mingling with said biomass feedstock. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said liquefied biomass is subjected to a hydrogenation reaction. 
     
     
         9 . A process for producing a fuel product from organic-waste material, comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing a organic-waste material feedstock to a high-shear screw extruder system;   (b) mixing said organic-waste material in the absence of oxygen in said extruder at a temperature of at least 650 degrees F. and at a pressure of at least 200 psi, thereby forming liquefied organic-waste material; and   (c) re-circulating and blending at least a portion of said liquefied organic-waste material with fresh feedstock organic-waste material.   
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein said organic-waste material includes a component selected from the group consisting of bituminous-waste material, cellulosic material, rubber material, waste organic sludges, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein step (c) includes heating the liquefied biomass prior blending with the fresh feedstock organic-waste material. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of said liquefied biomass is subjected to a hydrogenation reaction.