Pyrolysis oil based fuel and method of production

Abstract

Fuel composition and methods of making fuel compositions including 50-90 wt % pyrolysis oil, 0.1-40 wt % water, 1-30 wt % alcohol, and 0.1-4 wt % surfactant, wherein the composition is an emulsion. The pyrolysis oil may be a crude pyrolysis oil and may be produced by pyrolysis of biomass material. The pyrolysis oil and surfactant may form the continuous phase and the water and alcohol may form the dispersed phase of the emulsion. Alternatively, the water and alcohol may form the continuous phase and the pyrolysis oil and surfactant may form the dispersed phase of the emulsion.

1 . A fuel composition comprising:
 50-90 wt % pyrolysis oil;   0.1-40 wt % water;   1-30 wt % alcohol; and   0.1-4 wt % surfactant;   wherein the composition is an emulsion.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the pyrolysis oil comprises crude pyrolysis oil. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the pyrolysis oil is produced by pyrolysis of biomass material. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the biomass comprises wood. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the alcohol comprises one or more polyalcohols or glycols. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the alcohol comprises propylene glycol or ethylene glycol. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein surfactant comprises a non-ionic polymeric surfactant. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of Hypermer 1083SF, Monoamine ADD, Incromide, Chemax EM-1160, and Tween 80. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a co-surfactant. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9  wherein the surfactant comprises Hypermer 1083SF and the co-surfactant comprises Monoamine ADD or Incromide. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9  wherein the surfactant comprises Chemax EM-1160 and the co-surfactant comprises Tween 80. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising diesel fuel. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the pyrolysis oil and surfactant form a continuous phase and the water and alcohol form a dispersed phase of the emulsion. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the water and alcohol form a continuous phase and the pyrolysis oil and surfactant form a dispersed phase of the emulsion. 
     
     
         15 . A fuel composition emulsion comprising:
 a first phase comprising water and alcohol; and   a second phase comprising pyrolysis oil and surfactant;   wherein one of the first and second phases forms a continuous phase and the other of the first and second phases forms a dispersed phase.   
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a stable pyrolysis oil based fuel emulsion comprising:
 combining water and alcohol to form a water and alcohol mixture;   separately combining pyrolysis oil and a surfactant to form a pyrolysis oil and surfactant mixture;   adding a first portion of the water and alcohol mixture to the pyrolysis oil and surfactant mixture and mixing;   adding a second portion of the water and alcohol mixture to the pyrolysis oil and surfactant mixture; and   mixing until a stable emulsion is formed.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first and second portions of the water and alcohol mixture are formed together when the water and alcohol mixture is formed, and dividing the mixture into the first and second portions. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first and second portions of the water and alcohol mixture are made separately by combining a first quantity of water and a first quantity of alcohol to form the first portion and by combining a second quantity of water and a second quantity of alcohol to form the second portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of Hypermer 1083SF, Monoamine ADD, Incromide, Chemax EM-1160, and Tween 80. 
     
     
         20 . A method of forming a stable pyrolysis oil based fuel emulsion comprising:
 combining water and alcohol to form a water and alcohol mixture;   separately combining pyrolysis oil and a surfactant to form a pyrolysis oil and surfactant mixture;   adding a first portion of the pyrolysis oil and surfactant mixture to the water and alcohol mixture and mixing;   adding a second portion of the pyrolysis oil and surfactant mixture to the water and alcohol mixture;   mixing until a stable emulsion is formed.