IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,351,761
Granted Patent B2
US 12,351,761 · App. 17/283,071 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Catalytic process

Inventors: Dermot O'Hare (Oxford, GB); Shik Chi Tsang (Oxford, GB); Jean-Charles Buffet (Oxford, GB); Haohong Duan (Oxford, GB); Titipong Issariyakul (Bangkok, TH)
Assignee: OXFORD UNIVERSITY INNOVATION LIMITED
C10G3/47B01J21/063B01J23/46C07C1/22C07C2521/06C07C2523/46C10G2300/70
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,351,761
App. No.
17/283,071
Granted
Jul 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A catalytic process for the deoxygenation of an organic substrate, such as a biomass or bio-oil, is described. The catalytic process is conducted in the presence of a gaseous mixture containing both hydrogen and nitrogen. The presence of nitrogen in the gaseous mixture gives rise inter-aliato increased catalytic activity and/or increased selectivity for aromatic reaction products.

Claims (24)

1. A catalytic process for reducing the oxygen content of an organic substrate, the process comprising the steps of:

a) providing a mixture comprising:

i. the organic substrate, wherein the organic substrate is one or more organic compounds selected from the group consisting of p-cresol, m-cresol, eugenol, guaiacol, 4-ethyl-guaiacol, 3-propyl-guaiacol, syringol, 4-methyl-syringol, 4-allyl-syringol and 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene; and

ii. a catalyst;

b) contacting the mixture of step a) with a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen gas and nitrogen gas to reduce the oxygen content of the organic substrate,

wherein the volume ratio of hydrogen gas to nitrogen gas in step b) is 1:0.5 to 1:20.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of hydrogen gas to nitrogen gas is 1:0.5 to 1:10.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of hydrogen gas to nitrogen gas is 1:2.75 to 1:8.4.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of hydrogen gas to nitrogen gas is 1:3.25 to 1:6.5.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein greater than 60 vol. % of the gaseous mixture used in step b) is composed of hydrogen and nitrogen.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Ru, Pt and Pd supported on a support material selected from the group consisting of titania, alumina, silica, zirconia and carbon.

7. The process according to claim 6 , wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of Ru/TiO 2 , Pd/TiO 2 and Ru/C.

8. The process according to claim 7 , wherein the catalyst is Ru/TiO 2 .

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the organic substrate is a mixture of organic compounds comprising p-cresol and one or more of m-cresol, eugenol, guaiacol, 4-ethyl-guaiacol, 3-propyl-guaiacol, syringol, 4-methyl-syringol, 4-allyl-syringol and 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene.

10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the organic substrate is a mixture of oxygen-containing compounds derived from plant matter.

11. The process according to claim 10 , wherein the mixture of oxygen-containing compounds derived from plant matter is:

a biomass,

a bio-oil, or

liquid obtainable by the pyrolysis of a plant-derived material.

12. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the organic substrate is pyrolised lignocellulosic biomass, which may be liquid.

13. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the mixture of step a) further comprises a solvent.

14. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the solvent is an organic solvent.

15. The process according to claim 1 , wherein step b) is carried out at a temperature of 40-500° C.

16. The process according to claim 1 , wherein step b) is carried out at a temperature of 80-220° C.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: SCG CHEMICALS COMPANY LIMITED
To: SCG CHEMICALS PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 069285/0166 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: O'HARE, DERMOT; TSANG, SHIK CHI; BUFFET, JEAN-CHARLES; DUAN, HAOHONG
To: THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Reel/Frame 068774/0512 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: ISSARIYAKUL, TITIPONG
To: SCG PACKAGING PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 068774/0520 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
To: SCG CHEMICALS PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 068774/0564 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: SCG CHEMICALS PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED; SCG PACKAGING PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
To: OXFORD UNIVERSITY INNOVATION LIMITED (OUI)
Reel/Frame 068774/0570 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 18199977 · Oct 11, 2018 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210371754A1 · Dec 2, 2021
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