Process to produce biofuels from biomass

Abstract

A process for producing biofuels from biomass is provided by removing sulfur compounds and nitrogen compounds from the biomass by contacting the biomass with a digestive solvent to form a pretreated biomass containing soluble carbohydrates and having less than 35% of the sulfur content and less than 35% of the nitrogen content, based on untreated biomass on a dry mass basis, prior to carrying out aqueous phase reforming and further processing to form a liquid fuel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising: a digester that receives a biomass feedstock and a digestive solvent operating under conditions to effectively remove nitrogen compounds and sulfur compounds from said biomass feedstock and discharges a treated stream comprising a carbohydrate having less than 35% of the sulfur content and less than 35% of the nitrogen content based on untreated biomass feedstock on a dry mass basis; an aqueous phase reforming reactor comprising an aqueous phase reforming catalyst that receives the treated stream and discharges an oxygenated intermediate stream, wherein a first portion of the oxygenated intermediate stream is recycled to the digester as at least a portion of the digestive solvent; and a fuels processing reactor comprising a condensation catalyst that receives a second portion of the oxygenated intermediate stream and discharges a liquid fuel. 
     
     
         2 . A system comprising: a digester that receives a biomass feedstock and a digestive solvent operating under conditions to effectively remove nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur compounds from said biomass feedstock and discharges a treated stream comprising a carbohydrate having less than 35% of the sulfur content and less than 35% of the nitrogen content based on untreated biomass feedstock on a dry mass basis; an aqueous phase reforming reactor comprising an aqueous phase reforming catalyst that receives the treated stream and discharges an oxygenated intermediate, wherein a first portion of the oxygenated intermediate stream is recycled to the digester as at least a portion of the digestive solvent; a first fuels processing reactor comprising a dehydrogenation catalyst that receives a second portion of the oxygenated intermediate stream and discharges an olefin-containing stream; and a second fuels processing reactor comprising an alkylation catalyst that receives the olefin-containing stream and discharges a liquid fuel.