US 12,129,225 B2
Biogas conversion to mixed alcohols
Richard Denham Ridley, Jr., Berthoud, CO (US); and Michael Emory Pardun, Denver, CO (US)
Assigned to Standard Alcohol Company of America, Inc., Denver, CO (US)
Filed by Standard Alcohol Company of America, Inc., Denver, CO (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/540,194.
Application 18/540,194 is a continuation of application No. 17/578,389, filed on Jan. 18, 2022, granted, now 11,845,713.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/140,282, filed on Jan. 22, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0109827 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C07C 29/151 (2006.01); C01B 3/34 (2006.01); C01B 3/52 (2006.01); C07C 29/153 (2006.01); C07C 29/48 (2006.01); C07C 29/74 (2006.01); C10L 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC C07C 29/1518 (2013.01) [C01B 3/34 (2013.01); C01B 3/52 (2013.01); C07C 29/153 (2013.01); C07C 29/48 (2013.01); C07C 29/74 (2013.01); C10L 1/04 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0475 (2013.01); C01B 2203/061 (2013.01); C01B 2203/1241 (2013.01); C01B 2203/1258 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for producing mixed alcohols, said process comprising:
(a) obtaining a biogas feedstock;
(b) purifying said biogas feedstock to generate a renewable natural gas stream comprising methane;
(c) introducing said renewable natural gas stream into a methane-to-syngas unit operated at effective conditions to convert said methane to a first syngas stream containing at least H2, CO, and CO2;
(d) purifying said first syngas stream, including separating said CO2 from said first syngas stream, and optionally separating some of said H2 from said first syngas stream, thereby generating a clean syngas stream;
(e) introducing said clean syngas stream into a mixed-alcohol reactor operated at effective alcohol synthesis conditions and in the presence of an alcohol-synthesis catalyst, thereby generating mixed alcohols and a reactor off-gas; and
(f) purifying said mixed alcohols,
wherein said reactor off-gas is recycled to step (d), and wherein said reactor off-gas is treated in a H2S removal unit prior to recycling to step (d).