Upgrading alcohols, diols and glycols to larger products

Abstract

In brief, the invention is a process for the conversion of molecules containing one or more alcohol functionalities to larger molecules. Alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and hexanol and diols/glycols, such a propylene glycol and butanediol are fed to supported metal catalyst such as a noble metal/solid acid catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at elevated temperatures and pressures create a mixture of hydrocarbon and oxygenate products.

1 . A process for converting C1 to C4 bio-sourced molecules with one or more oxygen containing functionalities to C5+ hydrocarbons comprising:
 a) providing a C1 to C4 alcohol stream from a biomass conversion process;   b) contacting the C1 to C4 alcohol stream with supported metal catalyst at a temperature of at least 500° F. and a pressure of at least 1000 psi, where the C1 to C4 alcohol stream is converted to a higher value stream containing hydrocarbons and oxygenates with carbon numbers of between six and 30; and   c) deoxygenating the higher value stream to remove oxygen from the oxygenate molecules and produce hydrocarbons that may be separated into feedstocks for at least one of gasoline, diesel, jet and gas oil.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the supported metal catalyst comprises a noble metal. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the supported metal catalyst comprises a noble metal in combination with a solid acid catalyst. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , further including the step of including hydrogen when contacting the C1 to C4 alcohols stream with the supported metal catalyst. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , the C1 to C4 bio-sourced alcohols included diols. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises a base metal catalyst. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen containing functionalities are hydroxides making the C1 to C4 molecules alcohols or polyols. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the catalyst includes Pt. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the catalyst includes Pd. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the catalyst includes a support comprising silica. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the catalyst includes a support comprising alumina. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the catalyst includes a silica/alumina support. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the catalyst includes Ni. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the catalyst includes Mo. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 1  where the catalyst comprises Pt and Pd each having concentrations of between about 0.3 and 0.7 wt % and the support is either a silica-alumina or a gamma alumina. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1  where the catalyst comprises Ni and Mo wherein the Ni is present in a concentration of between about 1 and 5 wt % and the Mo is present in a concentration of between about 20 and 30 wt % and the support is either a silica-alumina or a gamma alumina. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 16  where the catalyst is reduced under hydrogen and used without sulfiding. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 16  where the catalyst is sulfided.