Process for selectively recovering a phenolic compound from feedstock comprising bio-crude and/or bio-oil
A process for selectively recovering a phenolic compound from feedstock comprising bio-crude and/or bio-oil is described. The recovery efficiency of the selected phenolic compound is greater than 70 wt % and the purity of the recovered selected phenolic compound is higher than 80 wt %. The process comprises distilling the feedstock to isolate the selected phenolic compound in a first distillate fraction comprising the selected phenolic compound, concentrating the selected phenolic compound from the first distillate fraction in a concentrated mixture, and purifying the concentrated mixture to recover the selected phenolic compound.
1. A process for selectively recovering a phenolic compound from feedstock comprising bio-crude and/or bio-oil, wherein the recovery efficiency of the selected phenolic compound is greater than 70 wt % and the purity of the recovered selected phenolic compound is higher than 80 wt %, the process comprising:
distilling the feedstock to isolate the selected phenolic compound in a first distillate fraction comprising the selected phenolic compound,
concentrating the selected phenolic compound from the first distillate fraction in a concentrated mixture, wherein concentrating comprises using sequential solvent extraction at decreasing pH levels to concentrate the selected phenolic compound in a concentrated mixture, wherein sequential solvent extraction at decreasing pH levels comprises extraction at pH levels in the following ranges: 14.5-14, 13-9.5, 8-6, and 3-0.5, and
purifying the concentrated mixture to recover the selected phenolic compound.
2. The process of the claim 1 , wherein an alkaline extraction solvent is used for sequential solvent extraction and the alkaline extraction solvent comprises dichloromethane, methyl isobutyl ketone, hexane or methyl tertiary butyl ether.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein purifying comprises performing adsorption on the concentrated mixture.
4. The process of claim 3 , wherein adsorption comprises chromatographic separation.
5. The process of claim 3 , wherein the adsorbent is silica gel.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the selected phenolic compound comprises a methoxyphenol.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the first distillate fraction boils at a temperature between 150° C. and 400° C.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the selected phenolic compound comprises one or more of eugenol, dihydroeugenol, or isoeugenol.
9. A process for selectively recovering a phenolic compound from feedstock comprising bio-crude and/or bio-oil, wherein the recovery efficiency of the selected phenolic compound is greater than 70 wt % and the purity of the recovered selected phenolic compound is higher than 80 wt %, the process comprising:
fractionating the feedstock into a volatile fraction and a non-volatile fraction using a solvent then
distilling the volatile fraction to isolate the selected phenolic compound in a first distillate fraction comprising the selected phenolic compound,
concentrating the selected phenolic compound from the first distillate fraction in a concentrated mixture, and
purifying the concentrated mixture to recover the selected phenolic compound.
10. The process of claim 9 , wherein the solvent is non-toxic, has a polarity index less than 3.2, and water solubility less than 0.5 g/100 mL.
11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the solvent is non-toxic, has a polarity index greater than 2 and less than 3.2, and water solubility between 0.01 and less than 0.5 g/100 mL.
12. The process of claim 9 , wherein the solvent is aromatic and has a boiling point less than 185° C.
13. The process of claim 9 , wherein the solvent comprises toluene, xylene, ortho-xylene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, reformate, or light cycle oil.
14. The process of claim 9 , wherein fractionating comprises more than one solvent fractionation step.
15. The process of claim 9 , wherein purifying comprises performing adsorption on the concentrated mixture.
16. The process of claim 15 , wherein adsorption comprises chromatographic separation.
17. A process for selectively recovering a phenolic compound from feedstock comprising bio-crude and/or bio-oil, wherein the recovery efficiency of the selected phenolic compound is greater than 70 wt % and the purity of the recovered selected phenolic compound is higher than 80 wt %, the process comprising:
distilling the feedstock to isolate the selected phenolic compound in a first distillate fraction comprising the selected phenolic compound,
concentrating the selected phenolic compound from the first distillate fraction in a concentrated mixture, and
purifying the concentrated mixture to recover the selected phenolic compound, wherein distilling comprises co-distilling the feedstock with a liquid that can solubilize at least a portion of the feedstock wherein the liquid has a higher boiling point than a boiling range of the selected phenolic compound.
18. The process of claim 17 , wherein the liquid comprises glycerol and/or triethylene glycol.