US4306884A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alcohol and fuel production
Assignee: Biohol Corp
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Filing: 1980-12-18
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Granted: 1981-12-22
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Expires: 2000-12-18
Abstract
Abstract Alcohol/water mixtures, such as those produced by fermentation of biomass material, are separated by extraction of alcohol with a solvent especially suited to such extraction and to subsequent removal. Conventional distillation steps to concentrate alcohol and eliminate water are rendered unnecessary at a considerable reduction in heat energy requirement (usually met with fossil fuel). Addition of gasoline between the solvent extraction and solvent recovery steps not only aids the latter separation but produces alcohol already denatured for fuel use.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest R. Roth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:07
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C29/00; C07C29/74; C07C29/76; C07C29/80; C07C29/86; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/02; C12; C12P; C12P7/00; C12P7/02; C12P7/04; C12P7/06; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E50/00; Y02E50/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S203/00; Y10S203/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
In separation of a mixture of water and alcohol, the step of extracting alcohol from the mixture by use of a solvent comprising a higher aliphatic alcohol major portion and an aliphatic hydrocarbon minor portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
In separation of a mixture of water and alcohol, the step of extracting alcohol from the mixture by use of a solvent comprising a higher aliphatic alcohol major portion and an aliphatic hydrocarbon minor portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Alcohol/water separation according to claim 1, wherein the higher aliphatic alcohol portion comprises one or more alcohols with from 7 to 10 carbon atoms per molecule, and the aliphatic hydrocarbon portion comprises one or more hydrocarbons with from 6 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Alcohol/water separation according to claim 2, wherein the higher aliphatic alcohol portion comprises predominantly 2-ethyl hexanol and the aliphatic hydrocarbon portion comprises predominantly 2-ethyl hexene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
Alcohol/water separation according to claim 1, 2, or 3 including the steps of adding gasoline in minor amount to the resulting organic-rich extract, settling out a water-containing underlayer, taking off an enriched organic overlayer, and separating the latter into denatured alcohol and solvent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
Process of producing fuel alcohol from biomass fermentation product, comprising adding thereto an extracting solvent comprising in major part a higher aliphatic alcohol portion with from 7 to 10 carbon atoms per molecule and in minor part an aliphatic hydrocarbon portion with from 6 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule, separating an organic-rich extract therefrom, adding gasoline in minor part to the extract and settling out an aqueous underlayer and drawing off an enriched organic overlayer, and then boiling off therefrom fuel alcohol denatured with gasoline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
Process of producing fuel alcohol from biomass fermentation product, comprising adding thereto an extracting solvent comprising in major part a higher aliphatic alcohol portion with from 7 to 10 carbon atoms per molecule and in minor part an aliphatic hydrocarbon portion with from 6 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule, separating an organic-rich extract therefrom, adding gasoline in minor part to the extract and settling out an aqueous underlayer and drawing off an enriched organic overlayer, and then boiling off therefrom fuel alcohol denatured with gasoline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Fuel alcohol production according to claim 5, including the step of drying the enriched overlayer by contact with water-adsorbing medium before boiling off the denatured alcohol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
Fuel alcohol production according to claim 6, wherein the resulting denatured alcohol is essentially anhydrous.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Fuel alcohol production according to claim 5, wherein the extracting solvent comprises 2-ethyl hexanol and 2-ethyl hexene in a ratio range of from about 4:1 to 7:1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
Fuel alcohol production according to claim 5, wherein the solvent extracts and the subsequent boiling off yields, in addition to ethanol, one or more higher alcohols and, in minor amount, one or more corresponding aldehydes, in a single phase.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
Process of producing fuel from biomass fermentation product, comprising adding thereto an extracting solvent including from 4 to 7 parts higher aliphatic alcohol to one part aliphatic hydrocarbon, eliminating water from the resulting extract, boiling off essentially anhydrous alcohol therefrom, and mixing such resulting alcohol with liquid fossil fuel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
Process of producing fuel from biomass fermentation product, comprising adding thereto an extracting solvent including from 4 to 7 parts higher aliphatic alcohol to one part aliphatic hydrocarbon, eliminating water from the resulting extract, boiling off essentially anhydrous alcohol therefrom, and mixing such resulting alcohol with liquid fossil fuel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
Fuel production according to claim 10, including the step of adding gasoline in minor part to the extract and thereby settling out an aqueous underlayer, and passing the resulting overlayer into contact with a water-adsorbing medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
Fuel production according to claim 10, wherein the higher aliphatic alcohol comprises predominantly 2-ethyl hexanol.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
Fuel production according to claim 12, wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbon comprises predominantly 2-ethyl hexene.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4161429A
Cited
US4251231A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-12-21 | 1985-06-22 | 1985-12-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-12-21 | 1989-06-22 | 1989-12-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-12-21 | 1993-06-22 | 1993-12-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |