Methods, reactor systems, and catalysts are provided for converting in a continuous process biomass to fuels and chemicals, including methods of converting the water insoluble components of biomass, such as hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, to volatile C.sub.2+O.sub.1-2 oxygenates, such as alcohols, ketones, cyclic ethers, esters, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and mixtures thereof. In certain applications, the volatile C.sub.2+O.sub.1-2 oxygenates can be collected and used as a final chemical product, or used in downstream processes to produce liquid fuels, chemicals and other products.

The present invention relates to methods of preparing carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H.sub.2) by reacting biomass, a biomass component (e.g., lignin, ligno-cellulose, cellulose, hemiceullose or combination thereof) or a carbohydrate from any source with a polyoxometalate catalyst such as H.sub.5PV.sub.2Mo.sub.10O.sub.40, or solvates thereof, in the presence of a concentrated acid, under conditions sufficient to yield carbon monoxide (CO); followed by electrochemical release of hydrogen (H.sub.2). The carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H.sub.2) may be combined in any desired proportion to yield synthesis gas (Syngas). The present invention further relates to methods for preparing H.sub.2, CO and formic acid/formaldehyde from biomass, a biomass component and/or from carbohydrates.

The present invention provides processes for catalytic deconstruction of biomass using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.

A method of depolymerizing coal includes preparing a high temperature depolymerizing medium consisting of heavy hydrocarbon oils and mixing it with coal to form a mixture, performing an optional first distillation at a temperature below 250 C. to recover naphthalene, heating the mixture to a temperature between 350 C. and 450 C. to create a digested coal, centrifuging the digested coal to remove ash and obtain a centrate, and distillation of the centrate into separate fractions. The high temperature depolymerizing medium may be a heavy hydrocarbon with a hydrogen to carbon (H/C) ratio higher than 7.0% and may include liquids chosen from the group consisting of: coal tar distillate, decant oil, anthracene oil, and heavy aromatic oils. The high temperature depolymerizing medium may be blended with an oil, preferably with H/C ratio higher than 10.0%, such as soybean oil, other biomass derived oil, lignin, petroleum oil, pyrolysis oil such that the overall hydrogen-to-carbon mass ratio in a digestion reactor is over 7.0% for the mixture of depolymerizing medium and coal. The depolymerized coal is an aromatic liquid that can itself be, either wholly or in part, a depolymerizing medium so that the process can be repeated.

A method of extending the catalyst life of a hydrogenolysis catalyst activity in the presence of biomass and aqueous solution is described. Lignocellulosic biomass solids and aqueous solution is provided to in a hydrothermal digestion unit in the presence of a digestive solvent, and a supported hydrogenolysis catalyst containing (a) sulfur, (b) Mo or W, and (c) Co, Ni or mixture thereof, incorporated into a solid metal oxide support. The lignocellulosic biomass solids in the hydrothermal digestion unit is heated to a temperature in the range of 180 C. to less than 300 C. in the presence of digestive solvent, hydrogen, and in the range of 0.15 wt. % to 12.5 wt. %, based on catalyst, of H.sub.2S or H.sub.2S source at least partially soluble in aqueous solution, and the supported hydrogenolysis catalyst forming a product solution containing plurality of oxygenated hydrocarbons, the hydrothermal digestion unit maintaining protective sulfur concentration.

The invention relates to a process for improving efficiency of a organic food production plant, the process comprising preparing a feedstock of a raw harvested organic food base product; processing the prepared food base product, including heating; extracting the organic food material from the food base product, and leaving a residual waste product; feeding the waste product into a continuous process for converting carbonaceous material in the waste product into a liquid hydrocarbon product and extracting a liquid hydrocarbon product. The process is related to palm oil production from fresh fruit bunches.

The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass to produce aqueous and organic products using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.

The invention relates to continuous process for converting carbonaceous material contained in one or more feedstocks into a liquid hydrocarbon product, said feedstocks including the carbonaceous material being in a feed mixture including one or more fluids, said fluids including water and further liquid organic compounds at least partly produced by the process in a concentration of at least 1% by weight, where the process comprises converting at least part of the carbonaceous material by pressurizing the feed mixture to a pressure in the range 50-400 bar; heating the feed mixture to a temperature in the range 250-500 C., maintaining said pressurized and heated feed mixture in the desired pressure and temperature ranges in a reaction zone for a predefined time; cooling the feed mixture to a temperature in the range 25-200 C. and expanding the feed mixture to a pressure in the range of 1-70 bar, thereby causing the carbonaceous material to be converted to a liquid hydrocarbon product; at least partly expanding said converted feed mixture in a flash separation step, wherein the converted feed mixture is separated into a gas phase and a liquid phase, and wherein liquid CO2 is recovered from said gas phase, and separating from the liquid phase a fraction comprising liquid hydrocarbon product.

The present invention provides processes for catalytic deconstruction of biomass using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.

The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.