UTILIZING A MULTIPHASE REACTOR FOR THE CONVERSION OF BIOMASS TO PRODUCE SUBSTITUTED FURANS
The present disclosure provides methods to produce substituted furans (e.g., halomethylfurfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, and furfural), by acid-catalyzed conversion of biomass using a gaseous acid in a multiphase reactor, such as a fluidized bed reactor.
1 - 83 . (canceled)
84 : A method for producing furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, halomethylfurfural, optionally substituted alkylfurfural, levulinic acid, or formic acid, or any combination thereof in a gas-solid phase reactor, the method comprising:
feeding solid feedstock into a gas-solid phase reactor, wherein the solid feedstock comprises biomass or sugar, or any combination thereof;
feeding gaseous acid into the gas-solid phase reactor;
wherein:
(i) the solid feedstock has less than 10% water by weight;
(ii) the gaseous acid has less than 10% water by weight; or
(iii) both (i) and (ii);
mixing the solid feedstock and the gaseous acid to form a reaction mixture; and
producing furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, halomethylfurfural, alkylfurfural, levulinic acid, or formic acid, or any combination thereof, from at least a portion of the solid feedstock and at least a portion of the gaseous acid in the reaction mixture.
85 : The method of claim 84 , wherein the solid feedstock has between 1% and 10% water by weight.
86 : The method of claim 84 , wherein the reaction mixture has less than about 10% water by weight.
87 : A system for producing furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, halomethylfurfural, optionally substituted alkylfurfural, levulinic acid, or formic acid, or any combination thereof, wherein the system comprises:
solid feedstock, wherein the solid feedstock comprises biomass, sugar, or a combination thereof,
gaseous acid; and
a multiphase reactor configured to receive the solid feedstock and the gaseous acid and provide a reaction mixture comprising producing furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, halomethylfurfural, alkylfurfural, levulinic acid, or formic acid, or any combination thereof,
wherein:
(i) the solid feedstock has less than 10% water by weight;
(ii) the gaseous acid has less than 10% water by weight; or
(iii) both (i) and (ii).
88 : The system of claim 87 , wherein the solid feedstock has between 1% and 10% water by weight.
89 : The system of claim 87 , wherein the reaction mixture has less than about 10% water by weight.
90 : A composition, comprising:
a solid feedstock, wherein the solid feedstock comprises biomass or sugar, or a combination thereof;
gaseous acid; and
furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, halomethylfurfural, optionally substituted alkylfurfural, levulinic acid, or formic acid or any combination thereof;
wherein:
(i) the solid feedstock has less than 10% water by weight;
(ii) the gaseous acid has less than 10% water by weight; or
(iii) both (i) and (ii).
91 : The composition of claim 90 , wherein the solid feedstock has between 1% and 10% water by weight.
92 : The composition of claim 90 , wherein the composition has less than about 10% water by weight.