System and process for electrochemical upgrading of bio-oils and biocrudes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016281246-A1
Application number	US-201615078784-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2016
Priority date	Mar 23, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and process are disclosed for electrochemically upgrading bio-oils and bio-crudes that enhance yields of selected reduction products for subsequent production of bio-based fuels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A process for electrochemical hydrogenation, comprising the steps of:
introducing a feed comprising a bio-oil and/or a biocrude to an electrolysis cell comprising electrodes operatively coupled to at least one ion-selective membrane; passing a current through the electrolysis cell to convert molecules in the feed to a reduced product comprising reduced molecules containing a higher proportion of hydrogen than the feed molecules.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein introducing the feed includes introducing the bio-oil and/or the biocrude to a cathode.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen in the reduced molecules is derived from water.

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen in the reduced molecules is derived from protons.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the reduced product includes a total acid number less than the total acid number of the feed.

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein introducing the feed includes flowing the feed continuously into the electrolysis cell.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the feed is introduced to an electrolysis cell that is a PEM cell.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein introducing the feed includes introducing a gas containing hydrogen to a cathode and/or an anode of the electrolysis cell.

9 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the gas containing hydrogen is obtained from an external gas source, from gas evolved at the cathode, or a combination thereof.

10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein passing the current includes applying a controlled potential or a controlled current.

11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein passing the current includes applying a pulsed potential or a pulsed current.

12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein passing the current includes applying a ramped potential or a ramped current.

13 . The process of claim 1 , wherein converting the feed includes converting aromatic rings in feed molecules to reduced molecules that are aliphatic-containing molecules.

14 . The process of claim 1 , wherein converting the feed includes converting carbonyl groups in feed molecules to alcohol-containing reduced molecules.

15 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the feed is introduced into the electrolysis cell absent addition of a supporting electrolyte.

16 . The process of claim 1 , wherein passing current includes transferring anions and protons into a concentrate stream located between at least two ion-selective membranes to remove acids from the bio-oil.

17 . The process of claim 1 , further including recycling the reduced product to the same electrolysis cell or one or more additional electrolysis cells to further increase the proportion of hydrogen in the reduced product.

18 . The process of claim 1 , further including passing the reduced product through a thermal hydrotreating reactor to further increase the proportion of hydrogen in the reduced product.

19 . The process of claim 1 , further including passing the reduced product to a thermal alcohol dehydration reactor to decrease the oxygen content in the reduced product.

20 . The process of claim 1 , further including passing the reduced product to a thermal alkylation reactor to increase the average molecular weight of the reduced product.

Assignees

• Battelle Memorial Institute
• Battelle Energy Alliance Llc

Inventors

• Lilga Michael A
• Padmaperuma Asanga B
• Lister Tedd E
• Dufek Eric J
• Petkovic Lucia M
• Diaz-Aldana Luis A

Classifications

• C25B9/04

  Chemistry & Metallurgy · mapped topic

• C25B9/08

  Chemistry & Metallurgy · mapped topic

• C25B15/02

  Process control or regulation · CPC title

• C25B15/08

  Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes · CPC title

• C07B31/00

  Reduction in general · CPC title