Biocatalytic Conversion of Cyclohexane Oxidation Waste to Adipic Acid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current industrial processes for cyclohexane oxidation produce significant waste streams with low carbon utilization efficiency, as they are toxic to microorganisms and require disposal through burning, lacking effective biological treatment methods to recover valuable monomers like adipic acid and caprolactam.
Innovation Solution
Employing enzymes and metabolically engineered microorganisms to convert complex waste streams from cyclohexane oxidation into enriched monomers, which can be further processed into useful compounds such as polyols, diacids, and nylon intermediates, thereby enhancing carbon utilization and recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If chemical methods are used to recover materials from waste streams, then material recovery is achieved, but carbon utilization yield remains low and large portion of carbon is not utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of recovery methodology from chemical to biological, using microorganisms and enzymes to convert waste stream components into valuable products. This biological transformation approach achieves both high carbon utilization and improved recovery yields, resolving the contradiction between substance loss and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful toxic waste stream into beneficial products through biocatalysis. Microorganisms and enzymes transform toxic compounds containing carbon into valuable chemicals, thereby improving carbon utilization while maintaining high productivity through selective biological conversion pathways
2Object-affected harmful factors
If waste streams are disposed of by burning, then toxic components are eliminated, but valuable carbon is lost and environmental impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of burning waste streams to eliminate toxicity (which loses carbon), the patent uses biocatalytic methods to convert toxic components into valuable products. The toxic waste stream becomes a feedstock for producing chemicals, thereby eliminating toxicity while recovering and utilizing carbon in the form of useful products
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces microorganisms and enzymes as intermediary agents that mediate the transformation of toxic waste components into valuable products. These biological catalysts selectively convert toxic substances into useful chemicals, achieving both detoxification and carbon recovery without combustion
3Loss of substance
If conventional chemical processing is used on toxic waste streams, then material recovery is attempted, but the toxic nature prevents effective biological treatment and requires specialized incinerators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses microorganisms and enzymes as intermediary biocatalysts that can tolerate and metabolize toxic waste stream components. These biological intermediaries enable material recovery through metabolic conversion rather than requiring complex specialized incinerators, simplifying the overall process while achieving effective material recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs microorganisms that naturally possess the capability to metabolize toxic compounds as their carbon source. The system uses the waste stream's own toxic components as feedstock for the biocatalytic process, eliminating the need for external energy-intensive incineration infrastructure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases the yield of monomer components in waste streams, enabling more efficient recovery and recycling of valuable products, reducing the need for burning and minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
treating the mixed organic waste stream with a biocatalyst that comprises at least one isolated hydrolase enzyme, an immobilized hydrolase enzyme, a host cell that secretes a hydrolase, or a cell lysate that includes hydrolases... hydrolyzing the oligomers to provide methods for utilizing the carbon lost in these waste streams more efficiently
Implementation Method 2
The present invention is based at least in part on the use of enzymes, and naturally occurring hosts and recombinant microorganisms to improve the properties and composition of mixed organic waste streams... use enzymes and microorganisms to convert components of the complex toxic mixture of chemicals present in these mixed organic waste streams
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to methods for enriching monomer content in a cycloalkane oxidation process mixed organic waste stream. In particular, the methods involve combining a biocatalyst with a mixed organic waste stream from a cycloalkane oxidation process, and enzymatically converting dimeric and/or oligomeric components of said waste stream into monomeric components. The methods may enrich the content of diacids, adipic acid, and/or other α,ω-difunctional C6 alkanes in the mixed organic waste stream. Additionally, the treated mixed organic waste streams may have improved burning efficiency.