Gasoline and diesel production from pyrolytic lignin produced from pyrolysis of cellulosic waste
A process for the conversion of biomass to a liquid fuel is presented. The process includes the production of diesel and naphtha boiling point range fuels by hydrocracking of pyrolysis lignin extracted from biomass.
1. A process for producing hydrocarbon products comprising:
adding water to a mixture of pyrolysis oil and lignin;
separating pyrolysis oil and lignin from the mixture comprising pyrolysis oil and lignin thereby generating a water rich phase stream and a pyrolytic lignin stream;
passing the pyrolytic lignin stream to a hydrotreating unit thereby generating a deoxygenated light oil stream, wherein the hydrotreating unit is operated at a pressure in the range from about 5.5 MPa (800 psia) to about 8.3 MPa (1200 psia);
passing the deoxygenated light oil stream to a separation unit thereby generating an aqueous stream and an organic stream;
passing the organic stream to a hydrocracking unit and reacting the organic stream under mild hydrocracking conditions, thereby generating a product stream comprising hydrocarbon compounds useful for gasoline production or diesel fuel; and
passing the water rich phase stream to a reforming unit, thereby generating a hydrogen stream.
2. The process of claim 1 further comprising passing the hydrogen stream to the hydrotreating unit.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrotreating unit is operated to maximize the decarboxylation of the pyrolytic lignin while minimizing the hydrogen consumption to minimize the hydrodeoxygenation.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrocracking unit is operated at a pressure between about 3.4 MPa (500 psia) to about 12 MPa (1800 psia).
5. The process of claim 4 wherein the hydrocracking unit is operated at a pressure between about 5.5 MPa (800 psia) to about 8.3 MPa (1200 psia).
6. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrocracking unit is operated at a temperature between about 260° C. (500° F.) and 455° C. (850° F.).
7. The process of claim 6 wherein the hydrocracking unit is operated at a temperature between about 340° C. (650° F.) and 435° C. (810° F.).
8. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrocracking unit is operated with a catalyst with a zeolite cracking function.
9. The process of claim 8 wherein the catalyst is a zeolitic and amorphous catalyst.
10. The process of claim 9 wherein the catalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Cr, Mo, W, Co, Rh, Ir, Ru, Re and mixtures thereof.
11. The process of claim 10 wherein the catalyst comprises a mixture of Ni and Mo metals.
12. The process of claim 10 wherein the catalyst comprises at least two metals selected from the group consisting of Ni, Cr, Mo, W and mixtures thereof.
13. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrocracking of the organic stream comprises passing the organic stream over a large pore catalyst.
14. The process of claim 1 further comprising passing the product stream to a reforming unit thereby generating an aromatic rich product stream.
15. A process for producing hydrocarbon products comprising:
adding water to a mixture of pyrolysis oil and lignin;
separating pyrolysis oil and lignin comprising pyrolysis oil and lignin thereby generating a water rich phase stream and a pyrolytic lignin stream;
passing the pyrolytic lignin stream to a hydrotreating unit thereby generating a deoxygenated light oil stream, wherein the hydrotreating unit is operated at a pressure in the range from about 5.5 MPa (800 psia) to about 8.3 MPa (1200 psia);
passing the Light oil stream to a hydrocracking unit and reacting the light oil stream under mild hydrocracking conditions, thereby generating a product stream comprising hydrocarbon compounds; and
passing the water rich phase stream to a reforming unit, thereby generating a hydrogen stream.
16. The process of claim 1 wherein the deoxygenated light oil stream is drawn off as a vapor from the hydrotreating unit and then passed to the hydrocracking unit.