Systems and methods are provided for integrated conversion of biomass to ultimately form naphtha and/or diesel boiling range products. The integrated conversion can include an initial conversion of biomass to alcohols, such as by fermentation, followed by conversion of alcohols to olefins and then olefins to naphtha, jet, and diesel boiling range compounds, with high selectivity for formation of diesel boiling range compounds. The integrated conversion process can be facilitated by using a common catalyst for both the conversion of alcohols to olefins and the conversion of olefins to naphtha and/or diesel boiling range compounds. For example, ZSM-48 (an MRE zeotype framework structure catalyst) can be used as the catalyst for both conversion of alcohols to olefins and for oligomerization of olefins with increased selectivity for formation of diesel boiling range products.

A system for converting a biomass into a biofuel including a biomass processing station arranged to receive the biomass from a biomass harvester, output the biomass to a hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) converter, and receive a processed biomass from the HTL converter. The system includes a conduit arranged to transport the biomass from the biomass processing station to the HTL converter and transport the processed biomass from the HTL converter to the biomass processing station. The HTL converter includes a heat exchanger arranged to transfer thermal energy from a geothermal heat source to the biomass to convert the biomass into the processed biomass. The system also includes a controller arranged to monitor conditions of the biomass at locations along the conduit and adjust operations of components along the conduit to, thereby, adjust the conditions of the biomass at one or more locations along the conduit.

A system for converting a biomass into a biofuel including a biomass processing station arranged to receive the biomass from a biomass harvester, output the biomass to a hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) converter, and receive a processed biomass from the HTL converter. The system includes a conduit arranged to transport the biomass from the biomass processing station to the HTL converter and transport the processed biomass from the HTL converter to the biomass processing station. The HTL converter includes a heat exchanger arranged to transfer thermal energy from a geothermal heat source to the biomass to convert the biomass into the processed biomass. The system also includes a controller arranged to monitor conditions of the biomass at locations along the conduit and adjust operations of components along the conduit to, thereby, adjust the conditions of the biomass at one or more locations along the conduit.

A method for conversion of food waste to biofuel can include a first fermentation in which food waste is converted C.sub.2-C.sub.4 short-chain carboxylic acids, and a second fermentation in which the C.sub.2-C.sub.4 short-chain carboxylic acid are elongated into C.sub.5-C.sub.8 medium-chain carboxylic acids. Medium-chain carboxylic acids can undergo hydrogenation-dehydration of the medium-chain carboxylic acids into C.sub.5-C.sub.8 linear olefins. The C.sub.5-C.sub.8 linear olefins are then oligomerized to a C.sub.10-C.sub.25 mixture comprising olefins, paraffin, cycloparaffins, and aromatics through dimerization; and saturated to C.sub.10-C.sub.25 mixture by hydrogenation to produce the biofuel.

A system for producing ethanol comprises a rectifier column that receives a first process stream comprising from about 42% to about 60% ethanol, wherein the rectifier column purifies the first process stream to provide an ethanol product stream that is at least about 90% ethanol, and one or more evaporators configured to evaporate water from a second process stream, wherein the one or more evaporators generate vapor, and wherein at least a portion of the vapor supplies heat energy for separation of ethanol from water in the rectifier column.

The present invention provides to a process for recovery of an organic compound (i.e. Ethanol, propanol, butanol, Acetone, iso-propyl alcohol) from a fermented broth which is produced from different fermentation technologies. The present invention particularly relates to an integrated process for ethanol separation from the fermentation broth using integrated vapor compressing unit (turbofans), evaporator (falling film) and a broth stripper column (vacuum distillation system). The process is operated under low temperature for the separation and recovery of the organic compound (particularly ethanol) from the fermented broth containing live microbes typically below or at 50° C. to ensure the activity of the microbes in the broth recycle. Again, the activity of the microbes is further ensured by maintaining the residence time of the microbe containing broth outside the Fermentor is less than or equal to 10 minutes.

The present disclosure relates to processes for producing hydrocarbon fuels from lignocellulosic biomass. A process may include introducing biomass to a pretreatment system, and a first separation system forming a pentose-rich stream and a pentose-lean stream. The pentose-lean stream may be introduced to a hydrolysis system forming a hydrolysate and the hydrolysate introduced to a second separation system forming a hexose-rich stream and a lignin stream. Additionally, at least one of the pentose-rich stream or the hexose-rich stream may be introduced to a bioreactor containing microorganisms configured to produce hydrocarbon fuels. Additionally, the present disclosure also relates to systems for the production of hydrocarbon fuels. A system may include a pretreatment system, a first separation system, a hydrolysis system, a second separation system, and one or more bioreactors. Alternatively a system may include a pretreatment system, a hydrolysis system, a sugar separation system, and one or more bioreactors.

A method and device for extracting oil from food waste is disclosed. Food waste is introduced into an elongated cylinder that is immersed under hot water. A drive shaft is actuated that simultaneously presses the food waste against an interior wall and moves the food waste through the cylinder. The content of the cylinder is subjected to steam treatment using a steam inlet in the cylinder. The combination of hot water, steam treatment and pressing recovers a high content of oil from the food waste.

A system comprising a collocated thermal plant, water source, CO.sub.2 source and biomass growth module is disclosed. A method of improving the environment by utilizing the system is disclosed.

Enzyme production in a bioprocessing facility that utilizes the enzyme that is produced. Enzyme is produced by one or more microorganisms grown on a co-product (e.g., one or more stillage compositions) of the bioprocessing facility.