Process for Converting Cellulose and/or Hemicellulose in a Liquid Fuel Comprising Dissolution in Ionic Liquid
A process is disclosed for converting cellulose to liquid fuels. In the process the cellulose is dissolved in an ionic Liquid medium. The conversion process may comprise pyrolysis, thermal cracking, hydrocracking, catalytic cracking, hydrotreatment, or a combination thereof. The Ionic Liquid medium preferably is an inorganic molten salt hydrate.
1 . A process for converting a cellulosic material to a liquid fuel, said process comprising the steps of:
(i) dissolving at least the cellulose component of the cellulosic material in an Ionic Liquid; and
(ii) converting the dissolved cellulose component to a liquid fuel.
2 . The process of claim 1 wherein the Ionic Liquid is an inorganic molten salt hydrate or an organic cation.
3 . (canceled)
4 . The process of claim 1 wherein the cellulosic material is substantially fully soluble in the Ionic Liquid.
5 . The process of claim 4 wherein the cellulosic material is selected from aquatic biomass, cotton linters, paper, cardboard and mixtures thereof.
6 . The process of claim 1 wherein the cellulosic material comprises at least one component that is insoluble in the Ionic Liquid.
7 . The process of claim 6 wherein the cellulosic material comprises lignocellulose.
8 . The process of claim 6 comprising the further step of separating the at least one component that is insoluble in the Ionic Liquid prior to converting the dissolved cellulose component.
9 . The process of claim 6 wherein the at least one component that is insoluble in the Ionic Liquid comprises lignin.
10 . The process of claim 1 wherein step (ii) is carried out in the absence of a catalyst or in the presence of a catalyst.
11 . (canceled)
12 . The process of claim 1 wherein step (ii) is selected from pyrolysis, thermal cracking, hydrocracking, catalytic cracking, hydrotreatment or a combination thereof.
13 . The process of claim 1 wherein step (ii) is carried out at a temperature in the range of from 200° C. to 600° C., or at a temperature in the range of from 200° C. to 450° C.
14 . (canceled)
15 . The process of claim 1 wherein the Ionic Liquid medium comprises a molten salt hydrate.
16 . The process of claim 15 wherein the molten salt hydrate comprises a halogen anion.
17 . The process of claim 16 wherein the halogen anion is chloride.
18 . The process claim 15 wherein the molten salt hydrate comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of Zn, Ba, Ca, Li, Al, Cu, Fe, Cu(NH 3 ) x and Cr.
19 . The process of claim 1 wherein the Ionic Liquid is a molten salt hydrate comprising ZnCl 2 , CaCl 2 , LiCl, or a mixture thereof.
20 . The process of claim 1 wherein step (ii) is carried out under autogenous pressure.
21 . The process of claim 1 wherein water is removed from the Ionic Liquid during step (ii).
22 . The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid fuel is insoluble in the Ionic Liquid.
23 . The process of claim 1 comprising the further step (iii) of removing the fuel from the Ionic Liquid.