Pretreatment of biomass with carbonaceous material

{
  "publication_number": "US2011258913A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Pretreatment of biomass with carbonaceous material",
  "abstract": "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.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A composition of matter comprising an intimate mixture of a particulate solid biomass material and a carbonaceous material. 2. The composition of matter of claim 1 consisting essentially of the intimate mixture of the particulate solid biomass material and the carbonaceous material. 3. The composition of matter of claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous material is selected from the group consisting of coal; coke; char; tar; bio-oil; municipal solid waste; synthetic polymers; rubber; hydrocarbons; carbon monoxide; and mixtures thereof. 4. The composition of matter of claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous material contains less than 20 wt % oxygen. 5. The composition of matter of claim 4 wherein the carbonaceous material contains less than 10 wt % oxygen. 6. A method for preparing an intimate mixture of a particulate solid biomass material and a carbonaceous material comprising the step of mechanically treating the particulate solid biomass material in the presence of the carbonaceous material. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the mechanical treatment is selected from milling, grinding, kneading, comminuting, and combinations thereof. 8. The method of claim 6 whereby a catalyst is added prior to or during the mechanical treatment. 9. The method of claim 6 wherein the solid particulate biomass material is subjected to a temperature in the range of 30° C. to 300° C. prior to and/or during the mechanical treatment. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the temperature is in the range of from 90° C. to 200° C. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the temperature is in the range of from 105° C. to 150° C. 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the temperature is in the range of from 200° C. to 300° C. 13. The method of claim 9 wherein the pressure is above atmospheric pressure. 14. A process for converting particulate solid biomass material to a bio-oil, said process comprising the steps of (i) forming a composition of matter comprising an intimate mixture of the solid particulate biomass material and a carbonaceous material; and (ii) subjecting the composition of matter of step (i) to a pyrolysis reaction. 15. The process of claim 13 wherein the pyrolysis reaction is carried out in the presence of at least one catalyst. 16. The process of claim 13 wherein the carbonaceous material acts as a reducing agent during the pyrolysis reaction. 17. The process of claim 13 wherein the carbonaceous material acts as a hydrogen donor during the pyrolysis reaction. 18. A bio-oil produced by the process of claim 13. 19. The bio-oil of claim 17 having a total acid number (TAN) of less than 30."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "C10L 1/026",
    "C10G 2300/1011",
    "C10L 9/10",
    "Y02P 30/20"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "KIOR INC"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2009-12-16",
  "publication_date": "2011-10-27",
  "priority_date": "2008-12-16",
  "application_number": "US-200913140053-A",
  "family_id": "42269099",
  "citations": [
    "US4529407A",
    "US5752993A",
    "US7811339B2",
    "US7901568B2",
    "US7931784B2",
    "US8168840B2",
    "US8236173B2",
    "US8344194B2"
  ]
}