Theodore D Matson

US Patent:

20110065814, Mar 17, 2011

Filed:

Sep 17, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/885397

Inventors:

Theodore D. Matson - Goleta CA, US
Peter C. Ford - Santa Barbara CA, US
Gerald Macala - Santa Barbara CA, US
Alexei Iretski - Sault Sainte Marie MI, US

International Classification:

C10J 3/46
C07C 27/06

US Classification:

518702, 252373

Abstract:

A method of catalytically preparing a fluid product from solid carbonaceous material is described. In the method, at least one of the following equilibria is established by one or more catalysts: a) CHOH═CO+2H, b) CO+HO═CO+H. In some embodiments, the solid carbonaceous material is woody biomass. Components of the fluid product can include one or a combination of C-Calcohols. In certain embodiments, the method can be practiced with substantially all of the carbon in the carbonaceous material being converted to the fluid product. Also, in some embodiments, the fluid product can be prepared with substantially no char formation. The fluid product of various embodiments can be used directly as fuel or as a reagent for preparing commodity chemicals without the need for separating the fluid product components.