| KiOR, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120117860 | Two-Stage Reactor and Process for Conversion of Solid Biomass Material - A two-stage reactor is disclosed for the conversion of solid particulate biomass material. The reactor is designed to maximize conversion of the solid biomass material, while limiting excess cracking of primary reaction products. The two-stage reactor comprises a first stage reactor, in which solid biomass material is thermally pyrolyzed to primary reaction products. The primary reaction products are catalytically converted in a second stage reactor. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120101318 | PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE BIOFUELS - A process and system for separating and upgrading bio-oil into renewable fuels is provided. The process comprises separating bio-oil into a light fraction and heavy fraction based on their boiling points. The heavy fraction is then subjected to hydrotreatment, while the light fraction is not subjected to hydrotreatment. At least a portion of the un-hydrotreated light fraction and at least a portion of the hydrotreated heavy fraction are blended with petroleum-derived gasoline to thereby provide a renewable gasoline, and at least a portion of the hydrotreated heavy fraction is blended with petroleum-derived diesel to thereby provide a renewable diesel. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120090977 | CATALYST/BIOMASS MIXING IN TRANSPORT REACTOR - A reactor and/or process is disclosed for fluidized cracking of solid particulate biomass material, including a first mixing zone where a particulate stream comprising solid particulate biomass is mixed with a lift gas and becomes fluidized, and including a second mixing zone where a heat carrier material is mixed with the fluidized solid particulate biomass material. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120067773 | BIO-OIL PRODUCTION WITH OPTIMAL BYPRODUCT PROCESSING - A process and system for the conversion of biomass under high severity in the presence of a catalyst to produce a bio-oil, olefins, methane, and carbon monoxide (CO). The methane and/or CO can be used to generate hydrogen and the generated hydrogen can be used for hydrotreating the bio-oil. Additionally, or alternatively, a syngas stream, a carbon dioxide-rich stream, and/or a methane-rich stream can be recovered for use in the bio-oil production process and/or for use in a conventional petroleum refinery and/or petrochemical plant. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120060408 | PROCESS FOR PREPARING A FLUIDIZABLE BIOMASS-CATALYST COMPOSITE MATERIAL - A process is disclosed for preparing fluidizable particles of a biomass/catalyst composite material. The process comprises the steps of (i) providing a particulate, solid biomass material; (ii) forming a composite of the biomass material and a catalytic material; (iii) subjecting the biomass material to a thermal treatment at a torrefaction temperature at or above 200° C., and low enough to avoid significant conversion of the biomass material to liquid conversion products; and (iv) forming fluidizable particles from the biomass material. Step (ii) may be carried out before or after step (iii). | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120037486 | MULTI-FUNCTIONAL CATALYST COMPOSITION FOR THE CONVERSION OF BIOMASS - A process is disclosed for the conversion of cellulosic biomass, in particular ligno-cellulosic biomass. The process comprises heating the biomass to a conversion temperature in the range of from 200 to 500° C. in the presence of a catalyst system. The catalyst system comprises a basic functionality comprising an alkali metal component and a multivalent metal component. The catalyst system optionally further comprises an acidic component. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120022307 | CO-PROCESSING SOLID BIOMASS IN A CONVENTIONAL PETROLEUM REFINING PROCESS UNIT - Preparing solid biomass particles for catalytic conversion includes agitating solid biomass particles and providing a biomass-catalyst mixture to a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass-catalyst mixture includes the solid biomass particles and a catalyst. Agitating solid biomass particles includes flowing a gas to provide a velocity to at least a portion of the solid biomass particles sufficient to reduce their sizes. Co-processing a biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock includes liquefying at least a portion of a biomass-catalyst mixture and co-processing at least a portion of the liquefied biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock in a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass feedstock includes a plurality of solid biomass particles and a catalyst, which is liquefied to produce a liquefied biomass feedstock. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120017492 | PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE BIO-DISTILLATE - A process and system for separating a light fraction, a bio-distillate fraction, and a heavy fraction from a bio-oil, and for producing a renewable distillate including at least in part the bio-distillate fraction and a stabilizing additive, is provided. The process comprises separating bio-oil into light, bio-distillate, and heavy fractions based on their boiling points. At least a portion of the bio-distillate fraction and a stabilizing additive are blended with a petroleum-derived-diesel-range stream, without any prior hydrotreatment, to thereby provide a renewable distillate composition. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120012451 | SOLIDS REMOVAL FROM BIO-OIL USING BIOMASS FILTER AID - A green process and system are disclosed for utilizing a biomass filter aid in the filtration of a bio-oil. The process comprises filtering a bio-oil containing residual solids from a conversion reaction in the presence of the biomass filter aid to produce a filtered bio-oil. The biomass filter aid facilitates efficient removal of residual solids from the bio-oil. The spent biomass filter aid containing the residual solids may be recycled as a conversion feedstock or used as a combustion heat source in the biomass conversion system. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20110283601 | BIOMASS PYROLYSIS CONVERSION PROCESS WITH HIGH OLEFIN PRODUCTION AND UPGRADE - Disclosed is a process for biomass conversion in a catalytic pyrolysis reactor to convert such to liquid hydrocarbons which includes conditions which favor increased olefin production; wherein the olefins are then upgraded alone or with the produced bio-oil to fuel range hydrocarbons. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110258913 | PRETREATMENT OF BIOMASS WITH CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL - A composition of matter is disclosed comprising an intimate mixture of a particulate solid biomass material and a carbonaceous material. The composition is suitable for conversion to a bio-oil in a pyrolysis reaction. The carbonaceous material acts as a reducing agent during the pyrolysis reaction. The composition of matter produces bio-oil in a greater yield than prior art processes. The bio-oil is of improved quality, as evidenced by its low TAN value. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110258912 | COUNTER-CURRENT PROCESS FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION - A countercurrent process is disclosed for converting solid biomass material. The solid biomass material travels through a reactor system in countercurrent with hot heat carrier materials, such as particulate heat carrier material and hot gases. The solid biomass material is subjected to a first conversion at a first temperature T 1, and a second conversion at a second temperature, T 2, such that T 2>T 1. Bio-oil produced to at T 1 is not exposed to the higher temperature T 2. As a result, secondary reactions of the bio-oil components are minimized. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110256615 | MODIFICATION OF BIOMASS FOR EFFICIENT CONVERSION TO FUELS - A process is disclosed for preparing biomass particles for thermolytic or enzymatic conversion whereby the biomass particles baying a moisture content of at least 20% are subjected to flash heating. The flash heating may be preceded by one or more adsorption/desorption cycles with water or steam. A swelling aid may be added during the adsorption part of an adsorption/desorption cycle. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110197511 | PROCESS FOR CONVERTING CARBON-BASED ENERGY CARRIER MATERIAL - A process is disclosed process for converting a solid or highly viscous carbon-based energy carrier material to liquid and gaseous reaction products, said process comprising the steps of: a) contacting the carbon-based energy carrier material with a particulate catalyst material b) converting the carbon-based energy carrier material at a reaction temperature between 200° C. and 450° C., preferably between 250° C. and 350° C., thereby forming reaction products in the vapor phase. In a preferred embodiment the process comprises the additional step of: c) separating the vapor phase reaction products from the particulate catalyst material within 10 seconds after said reaction products are formed. In a further preferred embodiment step c) is followed by: d) quenching the reaction products to a temperature below 200° C. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110197496 | PRODUCING FUEL AND SPECIALTY CHEMICALS FROM GLYCERIDE CONTAINING BIOMASS - A method for catalytically cracking a triglyceride-containing biomass can include the steps of (i) catalytically cracking triglycerides in a biomass-catalyst mixture, at a temperature below about 300° C., to produce a first oil and a cellulosic portion and (ii) catalytically cracking cellulose in the cellulosic portion, at a temperature between about 300 and about 600° C., to produce a second oil. Another method for catalytically cracking a triglyceride-containing biomass includes catalytically cracking triglycerides in a biomass-catalyst mixture, at a temperature between about 300 and about 600° C., where the catalyst comprises an acidic or basic catalyst, to produce an oil comprising aromatics. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110174597 | BIOMASS FEED SYSTEM/PROCESS - Disclosed is a process for conveying solid particulate biomass material to a reactor including: charging a quantity of solid particulate biomass material to a spool piece at a pressure P | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110154720 | Methods for Co-Processing of Biomass and Petroleum Feed - A process for producing fuel from biomass is disclosed herein. The process includes torrefying biomass material at a temperature between 80° C. to 400° C. to form particulated biomass having a mean average particle size between 1 μm and 1000 μm. The particulated biomass is mixed with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a suspension, wherein the suspension includes from 1 weight percent to 40 weight percent particulated biomass. The suspension is fed into a unit selected from the group consisting of a pyrolysis reactor, a fluid catalytic cracking unit, a delayed coker, a fluid coker, a hydroprocessing unit, and a hydrocracking unit, and then at least a portion of the particulated biomass of the suspension is converted into fuel. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110139602 | REMOVAL OF BOUND WATER FROM BIO-OIL - A process and system for removing bound water from bio-oil by azeotropic distillation. The process comprises combining a bound-water-containing bio-oil with an azeotrope agent and subjecting the resulting treated bio-oil to azeotropic distillation under reduced pressure. The azeotropic distillation removes a substantial portion of the bound water from the bio-oil, thus producing a water-depleted bio-oil that is less corrosive, more stable, and more readily miscible with hydrocarbons. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139597 | REMOVAL OF WATER FROM BIO-OIL - A process and system for separating water from bio-oil by using a partial condenser. The process comprises partially condensing vapor conversion products from a biomass conversion reaction to produce a water-rich overhead stream and a water-depleted stream comprising condensed bio-oil. The partial condenser removes a substantial portion of the water from the bio-oil, while providing an effective and flexible process for producing bio-oil. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139596 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PYROLYSIS OF A BIOMASS - A method and apparatus for effective pyrolysis of a biomass utilizing rapid heat transfer from a solid heat carrier or catalyst. Particularly, various embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses which incorporate progressive temperature quenching and rapid disengagement of the heat carrier material and reaction product. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110138681 | PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE BIO-GASOLINE - A process and system for separating bio-gasoline, bio-diesel and bio-fuel oil fractions from a bio-oil, and for producing a renewable gasoline including at least in part the bio-gasoline fraction, is provided. The process comprises separating bio-oil into a bio-gasoline fraction and a heavy fraction based on their boiling points. At least a portion of the bio-gasoline fraction is directly blended with a petroleum-derived gasoline, without any prior hydrotreatment, to thereby provide a renewable gasoline composition. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110114876 | BIOMASS PRETREATMENT PROCESS - A process is disclosed for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass. The process comprises swelling the lignocellulosic biomass with an aqueous liquid. The pretreated lignocellulosic biomass may be used as a feedstock for the enzymatic conversion to ethanol, or in a thermal conversion process to produce bio-oil. The pretreatment results in a greater yield and, in the case of a thermal conversion process, a better quality of the bio-oil. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110114765 | COMMINUTION AND DENSIFICATION OF BIOMASS PARTICLES - A method is disclosed for reducing the mechanical strength of solid biomass material, in particular ligno-cellulosic biomass. The method comprises heating the solid biomass material to a temperature in the range of 105° C. to 200° C. The heat treatment, which is referred to as “toasting”, significantly reduces the mechanical energy required for reducing the particle size of the solid biomass material. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110099888 | Catalytic Hydropyrolysis of Organophillic Biomass - A process for producing fuel from biomass is disclosed herein. The process includes torrefying biomass material at a temperature between 80° C. and 300° C. to form particulated biomass having a mean average particle size from about 1 μm to about 1000 μm. The particulated biomass is mixed with a liquid to form a suspension, wherein the liquid comprises bio-oil, wherein the suspension includes between 1 weight percent to 40 weight percent particulated biomass. The suspension is fed into a hydropyrolysis reactor; and at least a portion of the particulated biomass of the suspension is converted into fuel. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110094147 | Process for the Conversion of Solid Particulated Biomass Materials - A process for producing bio-fuel from biomass is disclosed herein. The process includes processing the mean particle diameter of the biomass by mechanical processing to a size ranging from 1 μm to 1000 μm to form particulated biomass. The particulated biomass is mixed with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a suspension, wherein the suspension includes between 1 weight percent to 40 weight percent particulated biomass. The suspension is heated to a temperature between 50° C. and 550° C. The heated suspension is fed into a unit selected from the group consisting of a pyrolysis reactor, a fluid catalytic cracking unit, a delayed coker, a fluid coker, a hydroprocessing unit, and a hydrocracking unit; and then at least a portion of the particulated biomass of the heated suspension is converted into fuel. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20100294643 | PROCESS FOR THE SELECTIVE DE-OXYGENATION OF BIOMASS - A reactive distillation process is disclosed for the selective oxygenation of a biomass. The biomass may be a ligno-cellulosic biomass, or a bio-oil. The process comprises the steps of contacting a biomass slurry with a particulate inorganic material, and heating the mixture to its boiling point. In a preferred embodiment water vapors emanated from the process are collected and condensed to provide a source of fresh water. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100293839 | PROCESS FOR MAKING BIO-OILS AND FRESH WATER FROM AQUATIC BIOMASS - A reactive distillation process is disclosed for converting aquatic biomass to a bio-oil. In the process a slurry of aquatic biomass is contacted with a particulate inorganic material. The mixture is heated to or above its boiling point. During the heating step biomass is converted to bio-oil. In a preferred embodiment water vapors emanating from the slurry are collected and condensed. The fresh water obtained may be used for irrigation, in human domestic uses, and for human consumption. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100293838 | LIQUID FUEL FROM AQUATIC BIOMASS - A process is disclosed for converting aquatic biomass to a bio-oil. The process comprises mixing the aquatic biomass with a particulate catalytic material; subjecting the aquatic biomass to a catalytic cracking reaction to form a reaction mixture comprising a bio-oil; and isolating the bio-oil from the reaction mixture. Preferably the process is integrated with a plant for producing aquatic biomass, so that heat and CO | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100281759 | MODULAR BIOMASS TREATMENT UNIT - A modular biomass treatment unit includes a first module having a pretreater and a first frame for transportation to and operation at a site adjacent to a solid biomass growth source. The pretreater is operable to process solid biomass to produce a plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical. The first frame supports the pretreater during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source. The modular biomass treatment unit can also include additional modules each comprising a reactor, a separator, and a frame for transportation to and operation at a site such as the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100280301 | PROCESS FOR REDUCING THE OXYGEN CONTENT OF HIGH-OXYGEN FEEDSTOCKS - A process is disclosed for reducing the oxygen content of a high-oxygen feedstock. The process is particularly suitable for biomass-based feedstocks. The process comprises contacting the feedstock with carbon monoxide and/or coke in the presence of a catalyst. Conveniently, the coke may be present in the form of a deposit on the catalyst. Carbon monoxide may be generated in a regeneration step of the catalyst. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100209965 | CATALYTIC PYROLYSIS OF FINE PARTICULATE BIOMASS, AND METHOD FOR REDUCING THE PARTICLE SIZE OF SOLID BIOMASS PARTICLES - A process is disclosed for converting a particulate biomass material to a bioliquid. In the process the biomass material is mixed with a heat transfer medium and a catalytic material, and heated to a temperature in the range of from 150 to 600° C. The particle size of the solid biomass may be reduced by abrasion in admixture with inorganic particles under agitation by a gas. The biomass particles of reduced size obtained in the abrasion process may be converted to bioliquid in any of a number of conversion processes. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100205858 | MODIFIED BIOMASS COMPRISING SYNTHETICALLY GROWN CARBON FIBERS - Biomass particles are modified by associating the particles with carbon fibers. The carbon fibers may be coated onto the biomass particles, or may be embedded within the biomass particles. As a result of the association with carbon fibers the particles are more susceptible to conversion to bioliquid. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100113849 | BIOMASS CONVERSION PROCESS - A process is disclosed including: contacting solid biomass with a first catalyst stream in a first reaction zone operated at a temperature T | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100105970 | BIOMASS CONVERSION PROCESS - A method for converting solid biomass into hydrocarbons includes contacting the solid biomass with a catalyst in a first riser operated at a temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 200° C. to thereby produce a first biomass-catalyst mixture and a first product comprising hydrocarbons; a) separating the first product from the first biomass-catalyst mixture; c) charging the first biomass-catalyst mixture to a second riser operated at a temperature in the range of from about 200° C. to about 400° C. to thereby produce a second biomass-catalyst mixture and a second product comprising hydrocarbons; d) separating the second product from the second biomass-catalyst mixture; e) charging the second biomass-catalyst mixture to a third riser operated at a temperature greater than about 450° C. to thereby produce a spent catalyst and a third product comprising hydrocarbons; and f) separating the third effluent from the spent catalyst. | 04-29-2010 |
