Feed control in conversion of biomass into hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12359228-B2
Application number	US-202318315774-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2023
Priority date	Jul 19, 2019
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to processes for producing hydrocarbon fuels from lignocellulosic biomass. A process may include introducing biomass to a pretreatment system, and a first separation system forming a pentose-rich stream and a pentose-lean stream. The pentose-lean stream may be introduced to a hydrolysis system forming a hydrolysate and the hydrolysate introduced to a second separation system forming a hexose-rich stream and a lignin stream. Additionally, at least one of the pentose-rich stream or the hexose-rich stream may be introduced to a bioreactor containing microorganisms configured to produce hydrocarbon fuels. Additionally, the present disclosure also relates to systems for the production of hydrocarbon fuels. A system may include a pretreatment system, a first separation system, a hydrolysis system, a second separation system, and one or more bioreactors. Alternatively a system may include a pretreatment system, a hydrolysis system, a sugar separation system, and one or more bioreactors.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A process for producing hydrocarbon fuels from lignocellulosic biomass, the process comprising:
introducing biomass to a pretreatment system to form a pretreatment effluent;
introducing the pretreatment effluent to a hydrolysis system to form a hydrolysate;
introducing the hydrolysate to a sugar separation system to form a pentose-rich stream, a hexose-rich stream, and a lignin stream;
introducing the pentose-rich stream to a first bioreactor containing first microorganisms configured to produce hydrocarbon fuels;
introducing the hexose-rich stream to a second bioreactor containing second microorganisms configured to produce hydrocarbon fuels, the second microorganisms being the same or different than the first microorganisms, an initial feed rate of the pentose-rich stream to the first bioreactor being different than an initial feed rate of the hexose-rich stream to the second bioreactor;
adjusting the initial feed rate of the pentose-rich stream to the first bioreactor with increase of time on stream; and
adjusting the initial feed rate of the hexose-rich stream to the second bioreactor with increase of time on stream.

2. The process of claim 1 , further comprising concentrating the pentose-rich stream to a sugar concentration of 40 wt % to 60 wt %.

3. The process of claim 1 , further comprising concentrating the hexose-rich stream to a sugar concentration of 40 wt % to 60 wt %.

4. The process of claim 1 , further comprising purifying the pentose-rich stream.

5. The process of claim 1 , further comprising purifying the hexose-rich stream.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the microorganisms are configured to produce the hydrocarbon fuels by converting pentose or hexose into a fatty acid ester, wherein the hydrocarbon fuels comprise at least one of fatty acid methyl ester or fatty acid ethyl ester.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein introducing at least one pentose-rich-stream or the hexose-rich stream to the bioreactor comprises introducing the pentose-rich stream to the bioreactor at an initial rate higher than an initial rate of introducing the hexose-rich stream to the bioreactor.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein introducing the at least one of the pentose-rich stream or the hexose-rich stream to a bioreactor comprises introducing the hexose-rich stream at a rate that increases with increase of time on stream.

9. The process of claim 1 , wherein introducing the at least one of the pentose-rich stream or the hexose-rich stream to a bioreactor comprises introducing the pentose-rich stream at a rate that declines with increase of time on stream.

Assignees

• Exxonmobil Technology & Engineering Company

Inventors

• Behkish Arsam
• Pilloni Giovanni
• Mcneely Kelsey M

Classifications

• C12P7/649

  Biodiesel, i.e. fatty acid alkyl esters · CPC title

• C12M45/06

  by chemical means or hydrolysis · CPC title

• C12M43/02 Primary

  Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices for liquid fuel extraction; Biorefineries · CPC title

• C12P2201/00

  Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis · CPC title

• C12P2203/00

  Fermentation products obtained from optionally pretreated or hydrolyzed cellulosic or lignocellulosic material as the carbon source · CPC title