Co-Processing of Biomass and Synthetic Polymer Based Materials in a Pyrolysis Conversion Process

1 . A process comprising charging a feed comprising a biomass and a synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material to a reactor for contact with a catalyst and conversion to a product comprising liquid hydrocarbons, wherein the weight ratio of said biomass to said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material is greater than about 1:4.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein hydrogen atoms originating with said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material remove oxygen from oxygenated hydrocarbons produced in the conversion of said biomass in said reactor.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of said biomass to said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material is greater than about 1:2.

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of said biomass to said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material is greater than about 1:1.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said reactor is a fluid bed reactor, a moving bed reactor, or a cyclone reactor.

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said reactor is operated at a temperature of from about 150 to about 600° C. and in an oxygen-poor atmosphere.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said reactor is operated at a temperature of from about 250 to about 550° C. and in an oxygen-poor atmosphere.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said biomass portion of said feed is subjected to pretreatment prior to charging to said reactor, wherein said pretreatment comprises a method selected from the group consisting of: a) drying; b) heat treatment in an oxygen-poor or oxygen-free atmosphere; c) solvent explosion; d) mechanical treatment with catalyst particles; e) demineralization; f) swelling in an aqueous solvent; g) impregnation of catalytic agents, mineral acids, organic acids, mineral bases; or h) a combination thereof.

9 . The process of claim 8 , wherein said mechanical treatment forms at least one of (a) an activated feed coated with said catalyst particles and (b) an activated feed having said catalyst particles embedded therein.

10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a solid base, a clay, an inorganic oxide, an inorganic hydroxide, a zeolite, a supported metal, and combinations thereof.

11 . The process of claim 10 , wherein said solid base comprises hydrotalcite; a hydrotalcite-like material; a clay; a layered hydroxy salt; a metal oxide; a metal hydroxide; a mixed metal oxide; or a mixture thereof.

12 . The process of claim 10 , wherein said catalyst is an E-cat.

13 . The process of claim 1 wherein said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material comprises at least about 10 wt. % hydrogen.

14 . The process of claim 1 wherein said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and combinations thereof.

15 . The process of claim 1 wherein said feed further comprises materials selected from the group consisting of paper, cotton, and combinations thereof.

16 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said catalyst is charged to said reactor separately from said biomass and synthetic thermoplastic based material.

17 . A process comprising charging a feed comprising a biomass and a synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material to a reactor for contact with a catalyst and conversion to a product comprising liquid hydrocarbons, wherein the weight ratio of said biomass to said synthetic thermoplastic polymer based material is greater than about 1:4, and wherein said catalyst is an E-cat.

18 . The process of claim 17 , wherein said catalyst is charged to said reactor separately from said biomass and synthetic thermoplastic based material.