Methods for renewable fuels with reduced waste streams
View Patent ↗The present application generally relates to the introduction of a reduced volatility renewable fuel oil as a feedstock and processing it with a petroleum stream in the presence of a catalyst to reduce the generation of waste streams in refinery systems or field upgrading equipment.
1. A method to reduce the generation of waste streams when preparing a fuel, comprising:
converting a cellulosic biomass into an unenriched renewable fuel oil by mechanical and thermal processing, comprising:
i) grinding the cellulosic biomass to form a ground cellulosic biomass, and
ii) non-catalytic rapid thermal processing of the ground cellulosic biomass to convert at least 60 wt. % of the ground cellulosic biomass to the unenriched renewable fuel oil;
devolatilizing the unenriched renewable fuel oil to produce an unenriched reduced-volatility renewable fuel oil, the unenriched reduced-volatility renewable fuel oil having a flash point in the range of 55-62 degrees C. as measured by the Pensky-Martens closed cup flash point tester; and
processing a feedstock in a fluidized catalytic cracker, the feedstock comprising:
i) 93-99.95 wt. % of a petroleum fraction, and
ii) 0.05-7 wt. % of the unenriched reduced-volatility renewable fuel oil.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the devolatizing comprises processing the unenriched renewable fuel oil in a wiped-film evaporator.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the devolatizing comprises processing the unenriched renewable fuel oil in a falling film evaporator.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the devolatizing comprises processing the unenriched renewable fuel oil in a flash column.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the devolatizing comprises processing the unenriched renewable fuel oil in a packed column.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the devolatizing comprises processing the unenriched renewable fuel oil in a devolatilization vessel.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unenriched reduced-volatility renewable fuel oil has a reduced weight percentage of phenols relative to the unenriched renewable fuel oil.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the unenriched renewable fuel oil has a solids content of less than 0.5 wt. % and an ash content of less than 0.1 wt. %.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cellulosic biomass comprises wood, wood residues, or sawdust.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cellulosic biomass comprises wood residues.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cellulosic biomass comprises bagasse, palm fronds, or empty fruit bunches.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unenriched renewable fuel oil has a solids content of less than 0.1 wt. %.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic biomass comprises wood, wood residues, or sawdust.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cellulosic biomass comprises wood residues.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the unenriched renewable fuel oil has a solids content of less than 0.5 wt. % and an ash content of less than 0.1 wt. %.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic biomass comprises bagasse, palm fronds, or empty fruit bunches.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unenriched renewable fuel oil has an ash content of less than 0.05 wt. %.