BIOMASS LIQUEFACTION TO PRODUCE REFINERY-READY BIO-OIL

摘要

A bio-oil product is produced from biomass material by subjecting the biomass material to a first stage liquefaction process, where the first stage liquefaction process includes combining the biomass material with a co-solvent including methanol and water to form a first slurry mixture, providing the slurry mixture within a first liquefaction reactor and maintaining the first slurry mixture at a sufficient temperature and pressure so as to convert a portion of the biomass material into a first liquefied bio-oil product as well as form a first aqueous product and a first solid product, and separating the first liquefied bio-oil product from the aqueous and solid products. The solid product obtained from the first stage liquefaction process is subjected to a second stage liquefaction process, where the second stage liquefaction process includes combining the first solid product with methane to form a second slurry mixture, and providing the second slurry mixture within a second liquefaction reactor and maintaining the second slurry mixture at a sufficient temperature and pressure so as to convert a portion of the first solid product to a second liquefied bio-oil product as well as form a second aqueous product and a second solid product.