The present invention is directed to a pyrolysis method. The method involves providing a biomass and subjecting the biomass, in a reactor operating under conditions of parasitic heat loss of less than 1% of the biomass' chemical energy content, to partial oxidation where, during steady state operation of the reactor, oxygen is provided to the reactor in sufficient quantity to achieve an equivalence ratio of 0.06 to 0.15 to release sufficient energy to support endothermic pyrolysis reactions and produce condensable organic compounds as the major portion of the pyrolysis products.

The present invention relates to a method for treating a vent gas steam from heat treatment of plant biomass. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the method for treating a vent gas steam from heat treatment of plant biomass.

A solvent stripping process has been developed for separating the pyrolysis oil in an extracted phase feed stream from an organic solvent used for extraction. The process involves using a stripping solvent to strip the organic solvent from the pyrolysis oil in a stripping column. The stripping column bottom stream comprising the pyrolysis oil and part of the stripping solvent can be separated into a vapor stream comprising the stripping solvent and a liquid stream comprising the pyrolysis and a portion of the stripping solvent. The stripping column overhead stream comprising the stripping solvent and the organic solvent can be separated in a recovery column into a recovery column overhead stream comprising the stripping solvent and a recovery column bottom stream comprising the organic solvent.

A solvent stripping process has been developed for separating the pyrolysis oil in an extracted phase feed stream from an organic solvent used for extraction. The process involves using a stripping solvent to strip the organic solvent from the pyrolysis oil in a stripping column. The stripping column bottom stream comprising the pyrolysis oil and part of the stripping solvent can be separated into a vapor stream comprising the stripping solvent and a liquid stream comprising the pyrolysis and a portion of the stripping solvent. The stripping column overhead stream comprising the stripping solvent and the organic solvent can be separated in a recovery column into a recovery column overhead stream comprising the stripping solvent and a recovery column bottom stream comprising the organic solvent.

A system is described that includes a pyrolyzer and a primary condenser. The primary condenser is coupled to the pyrolyzer and configured to receive pyrolytic vapors from the pyrolyzer. The primary condenser is further configured to condense the pyrolytic vapors by contacting the pyrolytic vapors with a condensing liquid, to form a bio-oil component mixture having multiple separated phases. At least a portion of the condensing liquid includes a component that is extracted as a separated stable phase from a second bio-oil component mixture resulting from a prior pyrolysis cycle.

A system is described that includes a pyrolyzer and a primary condenser. The primary condenser is coupled to the pyrolyzer and configured to receive pyrolytic vapors from the pyrolyzer. The primary condenser is further configured to condense the pyrolytic vapors by contacting the pyrolytic vapors with a condensing liquid, to form a bio-oil component mixture having multiple separated phases. At least a portion of the condensing liquid includes a component that is extracted as a separated stable phase from a second bio-oil component mixture resulting from a prior pyrolysis cycle.

A system is described that includes a pyrolyzer and a primary condenser. The primary condenser is coupled to the pyrolyzer and includes an input to receive pyrolytic vapors from the pyrolyzer and a solvent. The condenser is further configured to condense the pyrolytic vapors by contacting the pyrolytic vapors with the solvent to form a condensed liquid that exits the primary condenser via an output. A capture vessel receives the condensed liquid from the condenser output. A recirculator couples the capture vessel to the primary condenser input and is configured to receive the condensed liquid from the primary condenser, and to provide at least a portion of the condensed liquid as the solvent in the primary condenser. The solvent from the bio-oil component/solvent mixture is then extracted in a solvent extraction system and returned to the quenching system.

A system is described that includes a pyrolyzer and a primary condenser. The primary condenser is coupled to the pyrolyzer and includes an input to receive pyrolytic vapors from the pyrolyzer and a solvent. The condenser is further configured to condense the pyrolytic vapors by contacting the pyrolytic vapors with the solvent to form a condensed liquid that exits the primary condenser via an output. A capture vessel receives the condensed liquid from the condenser output. A recirculator couples the capture vessel to the primary condenser input and is configured to receive the condensed liquid from the primary condenser, and to provide at least a portion of the condensed liquid as the solvent in the primary condenser. The solvent from the bio-oil component/solvent mixture is then extracted in a solvent extraction system and returned to the quenching system.

Methods, processes, systems, or apparatus are provided to remove contaminants such as metals and chlorine present in a pyrolysis stream to form reduced-contaminant liquid biomass. In certain embodiments, for example, a metal chelating agent is dissolved into a metal-containing pyrolysis stream condensate to form metal chelate complex, followed by filtering to obtain the reduced-contaminant liquid biomass.

A method for producing a pyrolysis oil is described. In said method, a feedstock to be treated is first pyrolyzed in a pyrolysis zone, in which the feedstock is heated to a temperature of 250 degrees Celsius to 700 degrees Celsius; and pyrolyzed solids and pyrolysis vapors are formed. The pyrolysis vapors are then reformed at a temperature of 450 degrees Celsius to 1,200 degrees Celsius in a post-conditioning zone, in which the pyrolysis vapors are brought into contact with a catalyst bed, wherein the pyrolysis oil is formed. In this case, the catalyst comprises a pyrolyzed solid, which can be obtained according to the pyrolysis, described above. Finally the pyrolysis oil is separated from the additional pyrolysis products, which are formed, in a separation unit.