Process for converting biomass to a fuel
View Patent ↗Catalyst compositions comprising a phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component and a silica-containing binder, and methods for making and using same, are disclosed. More specifically, processes for making a catalyst for biomass conversion are provided. The process includes: treating a ZSM-5 zeolite with a phosphorous-containing compound to form a phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component; preparing a slurry comprising the phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component and a silica-containing binder; and shaping the slurry into shaped bodies. Such catalysts can be used for the thermocatalytic conversion of particulate biomass to liquid products such as bio-oil, resulting in higher bio-oil yields and lower coke than conventional catalysts.
1. A process for the conversion of particulate biomass to a fuel, the process comprising:
(a) treating a ZSM-5 zeolite component with a phosphorous-containing compound forming a phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component;
(b) preparing a slurry comprising the phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component and a silica-containing binder, wherein the silica-containing binder comprises silicic acid, polysilicic acid, or a combination of silicic acid and polysilicic acid;
(c) shaping the slurry into shaped bodies; and
(d) contacting the shaped bodies with a particulate biomass in a reactor under conditions suitable for biomass conversion to a fuel.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein in step (a), the phosphorous-containing compound is phosphoric acid.
3. The process of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to step (d), washing the shaped bodies to adjust to a pH value of about 8.
4. The process of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to step (d), calcining the shaped bodies.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein in step (d), the reactor is a fluidized bed reactor.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the silica-containing binder and shaped bodies are free of or substantially free of amorphous alumina.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein a yield of the fuel is higher than that produced by a biomass conversion method without step (a) or (b).
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein a coke resulting from step (d) is lower than that from a biomass conversion method without step (a) or (b).
9. A process for the conversion of particulate biomass to a fuel, the process comprising:
(a) treating a ZSM-5 zeolite component with a phosphorous-containing compound forming a phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component;
(b) calcining the phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component;
(c) preparing a slurry comprising the calcined phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component and a silica-containing binder;
(d) shaping the slurry into shaped bodies; and
(e) contacting the shaped bodies with a particulate biomass in a reactor under conditions suitable for biomass conversion to a fuel.