Esterification, Acetalization and/or Ketalization to Upgrade Bio-oils to Boiler or Space Heating Fuels

Description:

Overview of Technology

The technology is a development of a bio-oil sonification and esterification process that reduces bio-oil water content and acidity while significantly increasing higher heating value (HHV). The increase in HHV moves bio-oil to an energy level of 80% of No. 2 fuel oil, making the upgraded bio-oil much more competitive as a liquid fuel than is raw bio-oil. The ash content of raw bio-oil is a very low 0.04% and upgraded bio-oil maintains this level. Low ash content eliminates a source of deposition on boiler parts. Esterified bio-oil can be utilized as a space heating and boiler fuel.

Background on Technology

 

This invention relates to a method and equipment for producing esterified bio-oil suitable as a space heating fuel. By this method, bio-oil carboxylic acids are esterified by reaction of alcohols and acid catalyst with raw bio-oil at a moderate temperature. Sonication or severe shear more than doubles the reaction speed of this process allowing required capital equipment to be reduced by more than half. The negative properties of raw bio-oil produced by this process are reduced total acid number, lower water content, elimination of variability of viscosity over time, and reduction of pungent bio-oil odor. These properties make the upgraded bio-oil suitable as a fuel for space heating applications.

Fast pyrolysis is a process that can produce pyrolysis oil from any lignocellulosic biomass type. Bio-oil is produced by fast pyrolysis of small biomass particles at 400 to 650 degrees Celsius in the absence of oxygen.

Technology Overview

This technology is a development of a bio-oil sonification and esterification process that reduces bio-oil water content and acidity while significantly increasing higher heating value (HHV). The increase in HHV moves bio-oil to an energy level of 80% of no.2 fuel oil, making the upgraded bio-oil much more competitive as a liquid fuel than is raw bio-oil. The ash content of raw bio-oil is a very low 0.04% and upgraded bio-oil maintains this level. Low ash content eliminates a source of deposition on boiler parts.

Benefits

  • Upgraded bio-oil is more competitive as liquid fuel than is raw bio-oil
  • Low ash content eliminates a source of deposition on boiler parts
  • Esterified bio-oil can be utilized as a space heating and boiler fuel
  • High yield of bio-oil production
  • Has environmental benefits because combusted bio-oil produces half the NOx and no SOx when compared to petroleum fuels.
  • Derived from renewable energy source, considered CO2 neutral.
  • Can be burned directly in engines and electricity has been produced by bio-oil fueled diesel engines and turbines

Applications

This invention will have important application in the greenhouse industry as well as oil and gas industries. Due to increased costs for natural gas in these industries, there has been a contraction in business. This alternative fuel for greenhouse heating uses bio-oil produced from the fast pyrolysis of biomass.

Opportunity

This invention will appeal to firms that produce heating oils who are seeking a low-cost alternative. This technology will allow the production of heating fuel for the greenhouse industry. It would also appeal to the electrical generation industry in fueling their steam turbine generators with esterified bio-oil as a substitute for no.6 residual petroleum oils that contain high sulfur content. In addition, the shipping industry combusts large quantities of bunker fuel comprised of high sulfur petroleum residual oils that may be replaced by esterified bio-oil.