IP Library Granted Patent US 7,683,232
Granted Patent B2
US 7,683,232 · App. 11/137,770 · Granted Mar 23, 2010

Production of olefins having a functional group

Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,683,232
App. No.
11/137,770
Granted
Mar 23, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A process is disclosed for producing functionalized olefins from a fuel source including an organic compound including a functional group. Useful fuel sources include, for example, biofeedstocks (e.g., carbohydrates, triglycerides, polyols, and biodiesel). The process is preferably carried out by partial oxidation. The overall process can be carried out autothermally.

Claims (101)

1. A process for the production of an organic compound, the process comprising:

providing a catalyst for a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking process;

providing a fuel source to a reactor, wherein the fuel source comprises at least one organic compound comprising a functional group; and

providing at least one source of oxygen to the reactor;

wherein the process comprises conditions effective to produce a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking reaction product comprising an olefin comprising the functional group, wherein the reaction temperature is at least about 600° C., and wherein the olefin comprising the functional group is not present in the fuel source.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the at least one organic compound comprises at least 2 functional groups.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the functional group is selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, an aldehyde, a carboxylic acid, a carboxylic acid ester, a ketone, an acid halide, an amide, an ether, an alkyl halide, and combinations thereof.

4. A process for the production of an organic compound, the process comprising:

providing a catalyst for a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking process;

providing a fuel source to a reactor, wherein the fuel source comprises at least one organic compound comprising a functional group; and

providing at least one source of oxygen to the reactor;

wherein the process comprises conditions effective to produce a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking reaction product comprising a non-functionalized olefin and an olefin comprising the functional group, wherein the olefin comprising the functional group is not present in the fuel source.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction product comprises compounds selected from the group consisting of olefins, functionalized olefins, dienes, functionalized dienes, polyenes, functionalized polyenes, and combinations thereof.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the fuel source comprises at least one biofeedstock.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the biofeedstock comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, triglycerides, polyols, and combinations thereof.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the triglycerides are selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, animal fat, animal oil, and combinations thereof.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the vegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of soy oil, palm oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, safflower seed oil, rape seed oil, wheat germ oil, corn oil, peanut oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil, castor oil, coconut oil, and combinations thereof.

10. The process of claim 6 wherein the functional group is a methyl carboxylic acid ester.

11. The process of claim 6 wherein the functional group is an ethyl carboxylic acid ester.

12. The process of claim 6 wherein the functional group is a higher alcohol carboxylic acid ester.

13. A process for the production of an organic compound, the process comprising:

providing a catalyst;

providing a fuel source to a reactor, wherein the fuel source comprises at least one organic compound comprising a functional group; and

providing at least one source of oxygen to the reactor;

wherein the process comprises conditions effective to produce a reaction product comprising an olefin comprising the functional group, wherein the reaction temperature is at least about 600° C., wherein the olefin comprising the functional group is not present in the fuel source, wherein the fuel source comprises at least one biofeedstock, and wherein the biofeedstock comprises biodiesel.

14. The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst comprises a metal disposed on a support, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of a Group VIII metal, a Group IB metal, tin, and combinations thereof.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of rhodium, platinum, and combinations thereof.

16. The process of claim 14 wherein the catalyst further comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pd, Pt, Ru, Ir, Os, Mg, Cu, Si, Ti, V, Zn, La, Sm, Zr, Hf, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Y, Sn, Sb, Re, Eu, Yb, and combinations thereof.

17. The process of claim 14 wherein the metal comprises a pure metal, a metal oxide, a metal alloy, or combinations thereof.

18. The process of claim 14 wherein the catalyst comprises a support selected from the group consisting of metal monolith, metal foam, ceramic monolith, foam ceramic monolith, solid spheres, porous spheres, pellets, gauze, wires, plates, and combinations thereof.

19. The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is present in a reactor selected from the group consisting of an autothermal reactor, a fluidized bed reactor, a packed bed reactor, a catalytic wall reactor, a riser reactor, and combinations thereof.

20. The process of claim 1 wherein the source of oxygen is selected from the group consisting of air, O 2 , oxygen-enriched gas, and combinations thereof.

21. A process for the production of an organic compound, the process comprising:

providing a catalyst for a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking process;

providing a fuel source to a reactor, wherein the fuel source comprises at least one organic compound comprising a functional group; and

providing at least one source of oxygen to the reactor;

wherein the process comprises conditions effective to produce a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking reaction product comprising synthesis gas and an olefin comprising the functional group, wherein the reaction temperature is at least about 600° C., and wherein the olefin comprising the functional group is not present in the fuel source.

22. The process of claim 1 wherein the overall process is carried out under autothermal conditions.

23. The process of claim 1 further comprising an inert carrier gas.

24. The process of claim 23 wherein the inert carrier gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, helium, and combinations thereof.

25. The process of claim 1 further comprising contacting the fuel source and the source of oxygen with water.

26. A process for the production of a reaction product comprising at least one olefinic ester, the process comprising:

providing a reactor comprising a catalyst for a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking process;

providing a fuel source comprising a biofeedstock comprising at least one organic compound comprising an ester functional group;

providing at least one source of oxygen;

delivering the fuel source to the reactor;

delivering the source of oxygen to the reactor;

mixing the fuel source and the source of oxygen to provide a fuel and oxygen mixture; and

contacting the fuel and oxygen mixture with the catalyst under conditions effective to provide a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking reaction product comprising at least one olefinic ester not present in the fuel source, wherein the reaction temperature is at least about 600° C.

27. A process for the production of a reaction product comprising at least one olefinic ester, the process comprising:

providing a reactor comprising a catalyst for a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking process;

providing a fuel source comprising a biofeedstock comprising at least one organic compound comprising an ester functional group;

providing at least one source of oxygen;

delivering the fuel source to the reactor;

delivering the source of oxygen to the reactor;

mixing the fuel source and the source of oxygen to provide a fuel and oxygen mixture; and

contacting the fuel and oxygen mixture with the catalyst under conditions effective to provide a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking reaction product comprising at least one non-functionalized olefin and at least one olefinic ester not present in the fuel source.

28. The process of claim 27 wherein the non-functionalized olefin is ethylene.

29. The process of claim 27 wherein the non-functionalized olefin is propylene.

30. The process of claim 29 wherein the fuel source is a liquid fuel source and further wherein the liquid fuel source is vaporized prior to mixing with the source of oxygen.

31. The process of claim 30 wherein the liquid fuel source is vaporized and mixed with the oxygen source substantially simultaneously.

32. The process of claim 26 wherein at least about 20 mole percent of the ester functional group of the provided fuel source is present in the reaction product.

33. The process of claim 32 wherein at least about 50 mole percent of the ester functional group of the provided fuel source is present in the reaction product.

34. The process of claim 33 wherein at least about 75 mole percent of the ester functional group of the provided fuel source is present in the reaction product.

35. The process of claim 26 wherein the fuel and oxygen mixture are contacted with the catalyst for at least about 5 milliseconds.

36. The process of claim 35 wherein the fuel and oxygen mixture are contacted with the catalyst for no greater than about 50 milliseconds.

37. The process of claim 26 wherein the fuel and oxygen mixture, prior to contacting the catalyst, is heated to a temperature of at least about 25° C. above the boiling point of the fuel source.

38. The process of claim 37 wherein the fuel and oxygen mixture, prior to contacting the catalyst, is heated to a temperature of at no greater than about 150° C. above the boiling point of the fuel source.

39. The process of claim 26 wherein the fuel and oxygen mixture are contacted with the catalyst at a flow rate of at least about 1.5×10 5 hr −1 Gas Hourly Space Velocity.

40. The process of claim 39 wherein the fuel and oxygen mixture are contacted with the catalyst at a flow rate of no greater than about 6×10 6 hr −1 Gas Hourly Space Velocity.

41. The process of claim 26 wherein the catalyst comprises a metal disposed on a support, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of a Group VIII metal, a Group IB metal, tin, and combinations thereof.

42. The process of claim 41 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of rhodium, platinum, and combinations thereof.

43. The process of claim 41 wherein the catalyst further comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pd, Pt, Ru, Ir, Os, Mg, Cu, Si, Ti, V, Zn, La, Sm, Zr, Hf, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Y, Sn, Sb, Re, Eu, Yb, and combinations thereof.

44. The process of claim 26 wherein the carbon to oxygen ratio in the fuel and oxygen mixture is in an atomic ratio of at least about 0.8.

45. The process of claim 44 wherein carbon to oxygen ratio in the fuel and oxygen mixture is in an atomic ratio of no greater than about 5.

46. A process for the production of a reaction product comprising at least one functionalized olefin, the process comprising:

providing a reactor comprising a catalyst for a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking process;

providing a fuel source comprising a biofeedstock comprising at least one organic compound comprising a functional group;

providing at least one source of oxygen;

delivering the fuel source to the reactor;

delivering the source of oxygen to the reactor;

mixing the fuel source and the source of oxygen to provide a fuel and oxygen mixture; and

contacting the fuel and oxygen mixture with the catalyst under conditions effective to provide a partial oxidation and/or steam cracking reaction product comprising at least one non-functionalized olefin and at least one olefin comprising the functional group, wherein the olefin comprising the functional group is not present in the fuel source.

47. The process of claim 46 wherein the non-functionalized olefin is ethylene.

48. The process of claim 46 wherein the non-functionalized olefin is propylene.

49. The process of claim 46 wherein the functional group is selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, an aldehyde, a carboxylic acid, a carboxylic acid ester, a ketone, an acid halide, an amide, an ether, an alkyl halide, and combinations thereof.

50. The process of claim 46 wherein the reaction product comprises compounds selected from the group consisting of olefins, functionalized olefins, dienes, functionalized dienes, polyenes, functionalized polyenes, and combinations thereof.

51. The process of claim 46 wherein the biofeedstock comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, triglycerides, polyols, and combinations thereof.

52. The process of claim 51 wherein the triglycerides are selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, animal fat, animal oil, and combinations thereof.

53. The process of claim 52 wherein the vegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of soy oil, palm oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, safflower seed oil, rape seed oil, wheat germ oil, corn oil, peanut oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil, castor oil, coconut oil, and combinations thereof.

54. The process of claim 46 wherein the biofeedstock comprises biodiesel.

55. The process of claim 46 wherein the catalyst comprises a metal disposed on a support, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of a Group VIII metal, a Group IB metal, tin, and combinations thereof.

56. The process of claim 55 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of rhodium, platinum, and combinations thereof.

57. The process of claim 56 wherein the catalyst further comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pd, Pt, Ru, Ir, Os, Mg, Cu, Si, Ti, V, Zn, La, Sm, Zr, Hf, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Y, Sn, Sb, Re, Eu, Yb, and combinations thereof.

58. The process of claim 46 wherein the reactor is selected from the group consisting of an autothermal reactor, a fluidized bed reactor, a packed bed reactor, a catalytic wall reactor, a riser reactor, and combinations thereof.

59. The process of claim 46 wherein the source of oxygen is selected from the group consisting of air, O 2 , oxygen-enriched gas, and combinations thereof.

60. A process for the production of an organic compound, the process comprising:

providing a catalyst;

providing a fuel source to a reactor, wherein the fuel source comprises at least one organic compound comprising a functional group; and

providing at least one source of oxygen to the reactor;

wherein the process comprises conditions effective to produce a reaction product comprising an olefin comprising the functional group, wherein the olefin comprising the functional group is not present in the fuel source, wherein the fuel source comprises at least one biofeedstock, and wherein the biofeedstock comprises biodiesel.

Assignments (4)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jul 10, 2012
From: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 028528/0700 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 26, 2007
From: UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 019879/0804 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Oct 25, 2006
From: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 018432/0152 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2005
From: SCHMIDT, LANNY D.; SUBRAMANIAN, RAMANATHAN
To: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Reel/Frame 016847/0831 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 6057438100 · May 25, 2004
Related Publication 20060014840A1 · Jan 19, 2006