Process for production of fuels and chemicals from biomass feedstocks

Abstract

A process for the production of fuels and chemicals from biomass feedstock is provided. The process includes (a) drying the biomass feedstock using heated dry carbon monoxide gas; (b) devolatilizing the feedstock by reductive torrefaction with heated dry carbon monoxide gas; (c) pulverizing the feedstock; and (d) pyrolyzing the feedstock by reductive pyrolysis with high pressure or high temperature carbon monoxide gas. An integrated system for producing fuels and chemicals from biomass feedstock is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for producing fuels and chemicals from biomass feedstock comprising the steps of:
 (a) drying the biomass feedstock using heated dry carbon monoxide gas;   (b) devolatilizing the feedstock by reductive torrefaction with heated dry carbon monoxide gas;   (c) pulverizing the feedstock; and   (d) pyrolyzing the feedstock by reductive pyrolysis with high pressure or high temperature carbon monoxide gas.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the carbon monoxide gas used in the drying step is super critical carbon monoxide gas or liquid expanded with carbon monoxide gas. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the wet carbon monoxide gas produced from the drying step is dried and used again in the drying step. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the step of reducing and gasifying the devolatized biomass feedstock using carbon monoxide gas wherein the reducing and gasifying step occurs after the devolatilizing step and before the pulverizing step. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the step of reductively pyrolyzing the feedstock using carbon monoxide gas. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the step of reductively liquefying devolatized biomass feedstock using carbon monoxide gas. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein a heterogeneous or homogeneous catalyst is used. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein a fixed bed reactor is used to carry out the process steps in a batch process. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the process is carried out in a continuous flow process. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the feedstock is converted to one of the group consisting of: methane, naptha and diesel range liquid fuels. 
     
     
         11 . An integrated system for producing fuel or chemicals from biomass feedstock comprising:
 a fixed bed reactor;   a source of heated dry carbon monoxide gas for drying the feedstock;   a source of heated dry carbon monoxide gas for devolatilizing the feedstock;   a means for pulverizing the feedstock;   a source of high pressure or high temperature carbon monoxide gas for pyrolyzing the feedstock by reductive pyrolysis.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the carbon monoxide gas used to dry the feedstock is super critical carbon monoxide gas or liquid expanded with carbon monoxide gas. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein wet carbon monoxide gas produced from drying the feedstock is dried and used again to dry the feedstock. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising the step of reducing and gasifying the devolatized biomass feedstock using carbon monoxide gas wherein the reducing and gasifying step occurs after the devolatilizing step and before the pulverizing step. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  further wherein the feedstock is reductively pyrolizing the feedstock using carbon monoxide gas. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the devolatized biomass feedstock is reductively liquefied using carbon monoxide gas. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10  wherein a heterogeneous or homogeneous catalyst is used. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the feedstock is converted to one of the group consisting of: methane, naptha and diesel range liquid fuels. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the fuel and chemicals are produced in batch process. 
     
     
         20 . A means for producing fuels and chemicals from biomass feedstock comprising the steps of:
 (a) drying the biomass feedstock using heated dry carbon monoxide gas;   (b) devolatilizing the feedstock by reductive torrefaction with heated dry carbon monoxide gas;   (c) pulverizing the feedstock; and   (d) pyrolyzing the feedstock by reductive pyrrolsis with high pressure or high temperature carbon monoxide gas.