| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090014689 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SYNGAS AND ALCOHOLS - This invention features methods and apparatus for producing syngas from any carbon-containing feed material. In some embodiments, a substoichiometric amount of oxygen is used to enhance the formation of syngas. In various embodiments, both oxygen and steam are added during the conversion of the feed material into syngas. Some variations employ eductors for facilitating flow of solid and gas phases in the processes of the invention. The syngas can be converted to alcohols, such as ethanol, or to other products. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090018221 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SYNGAS AND ALCOHOLS - This invention features methods and apparatus for producing syngas from any carbon-containing feed material. In some embodiments, a substoichiometric amount of oxygen is used to enhance the formation of syngas. In various embodiments, both oxygen and steam are added during the conversion of the feed material into syngas. The syngas can be converted to alcohols, such as ethanol, or to other products. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090018371 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ALCOHOLS FROM SYNGAS - Methods and apparatus for producing alcohols from syngas are disclosed herein. In some variations, syngas is catalytically converted to methanol in a first reaction zone, and residual syngas from the first reaction zone is then catalytically converted to ethanol in a second reaction zone. Also, in some variations, syngas is catalytically converted to methanol in high yield in a first reaction zone, and the methanol is then converted (optionally, with additional syngas) to ethanol in a second reaction zone. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090093555 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SYNGAS - This invention features methods and apparatus for producing syngas from any carbon-containing feed material. In some embodiments, a substoichiometric amount of oxygen is used to enhance the formation of syngas. In various embodiments, a catalyst is derived from the ash content of the feed material, and this catalyst is used to enhance syngas formation. The syngas can be converted to alcohols, such as ethanol, or to other products. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090318573 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY PRODUCING ETHANOL FROM SYNTHESIS GAS - The invention provides methods and apparatus for selectively producing ethanol from syngas. As disclosed herein, syngas derived from cellulosic biomass (or other sources) can be catalytically converted into methanol, which in turn can be catalytically converted into acetic acid or acetates. Finally, the acetic acid or acetates can be reduced to ethanol according to several variations. In some embodiments, yields of ethanol from biomass can exceed 100 gallons per dry ton of biomass. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100137459 | MULTI-ZONE REFORMING METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION OF DEVOLATILIZED BIOMASS TO SYNGAS - The present invention provides improved methods and apparatus for producing syngas from any carbon-containing feed material. In one aspect, a multi-zone reformer system is provided. A first reaction zone can reduce the presence of refractory tars, while a second reaction zone in communication with the first reaction zone can steam-reform methane and other components from the first reaction zone, to generate high-quality syngas suitable for conversion to liquid fuels, such as ethanol. Other embodiments employ a plurality of reaction zones for added system functionality. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100152497 | METHODS FOR PROMOTING SYNGAS-TO-ALCOHOL CATALYSIS - Improved methods of introducing promoters to catalysts are described. The present invention provides a convenient method of uniformly distributing a catalyst promoter, to provide for intimate contact between the promoter and the active catalyst sites. This intimate contact can enhance the activity and/or product selectivity of the promoted catalyst. In some embodiments, the method includes reacting an alkali metal with an alcohol in a non-aqueous medium, contacting the resulting solution with a starting catalyst, and depositing the alkali metal onto the starting catalyst to form an alkali-promoted catalyst. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20110124927 | SELECTIVE PROCESS FOR CONVERSION OF SYNGAS TO ETHANOL - The present invention provides processes for selectively producing ethanol from syngas. In some variations, the process comprises converting biomass-derived syngas to dimethyl ether, carbonylating the dimethyl ether to methyl acetate, hydrogenating the methyl acetate to methanol and ethanol, and recovering the ethanol product. The methanol is preferably recycled by converting to hydrogen and carbon monoxide for introduction back into the process at distinct points. In certain variations of this invention, fresh syngas feed is introduced downstream of the first unit operation in the sequence. High yields of ethanol from biomass can be achieved according to the disclosed processes. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110150722 | MULTI-ZONE REFORMING METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION OF DEVOLATILIZED BIOMASS TO SYNGAS - The present invention provides improved methods and apparatus for producing syngas from any carbon-containing feed material. In one aspect, a multi-zone reformer system is provided. A first reaction zone can reduce the presence of refractory tars, while a second reaction zone in communication with the first reaction zone can steam-reform methane and other components from the first reaction zone, to generate high-quality syngas suitable for conversion to liquid fuels, such as ethanol. Other embodiments employ a plurality of reaction zones for added system functionality. | 06-23-2011 |
