abstract |
Disclosed herein is a method for the production of biofuels comprising (i) providing a biomass containing celluloses, hemicelluloses, lignin, nitrogen compounds and sulfur compounds; (ii) contacting the biomass with a digestive solvent to form a pretreated biomass containing carbohydrates; (iii) contacting the pretreated biomass with hydrogen at a temperature in the range of 180-290 degrees C in the presence of a supported hydrogenolysis catalyst containing (a) sulfur, (b) Mo or W, and (c) Co and/or Ni or mixture thereof incorporated into a suitable support to form a plurality of oxygenated intermediates, and (iv) processing at least a portion of the oxygenated intermediates to form a liquid fuel. Also disclosed are apparatus for performing the method and a composition comprising a lignocellulosic biomass; a hydrogenolysis catalyst comprising sulphur, molybdenum or tungsten, cobalt, nickel or a mixture thereof and phosphorus; water; and a digestive solvent. |