Bioethylene Production via Carrier Gas-Free Bioethanol Dehydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing bioethylene from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste require the use of carrier gases or eluents and energy-intensive purification steps, making the process costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A process that involves pretreating the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, mixing it with an inorganic mineral acid, and then using an enzyme cocktail and yeast fermentation to produce bioethanol, which is subsequently dehydrated over a solid acid catalyst in the absence of any additional eluent or carrier gas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If carrier gases or eluents are used in the dehydration reaction, then the reaction can proceed, but the process becomes more costly and requires additional separation operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for carrier gases or eluents from the dehydration reaction system. By using pure bioethanol vapor without any diluent or carrier gas, the process removes the source of harmful factors that would require subsequent separation operations, thereby simplifying the overall process while maintaining reaction effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of requiring complex separation operations into a benefit by designing a system that produces minimal byproducts and requires no separation steps. The direct dehydration of pure bioethanol vapor over the catalyst yields ethylene without CO or CO2 formation, turning what would be a harmful purification requirement into a benefit of simplified processing
2Ease of manufacture
If carrier gases or eluents are used in the dehydration reaction, then the reaction can proceed, but energy-intensive purification steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for carrier gases or eluents from the dehydration reaction system. By using pure bioethanol vapor without any diluent or carrier gas, the process removes the source of harmful factors that would require subsequent separation operations, thereby simplifying the overall process while maintaining reaction effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of requiring complex separation operations into a benefit by designing a system that produces minimal byproducts and requires no separation steps. The direct dehydration of pure bioethanol vapor over the catalyst yields ethylene without CO or CO2 formation, turning what would be a harmful purification requirement into a benefit of simplified processing
3Productivity
If co-products like carbon oxides are produced, then the dehydration reaction occurs, but ethylene purification is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the reaction parameters by operating at a specific temperature range (190-250°C) and using pure bioethanol vapor without diluents. This parameter optimization ensures high ethylene selectivity and prevents the formation of CO or CO2 byproducts, thereby maintaining high productivity while eliminating harmful co-products
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of requiring complex separation operations into a benefit by designing a system that produces minimal byproducts and requires no separation steps. The direct dehydration of pure bioethanol vapor over the catalyst yields ethylene without CO or CO2 formation, turning what would be a harmful purification requirement into a benefit of simplified processing
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 process achieves a bioethanol concentration of over 95% and simplifies the purification of bioethylene, eliminating the need for carrier gases and energy-intensive steps, thereby reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
putting the bioethanol obtained in (f) in gaseous form in the absence of any additional eluent or carrier gas in contact with a solid acid catalyst at a temperature of between 190°C and 250°C
Implementation Method 2
adding yeasts (0.1-1 g/l) and carrying out simultaneous fermentation and saccharification for 24 to 48 hours
Implementation Method 3
adding an enzyme cocktail comprising at least one cellulase and one amylase to the acid solution obtained in (c)
Implementation Method 4
reducing the water content of the liquid obtained in (e) by distillation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a recovery process for obtaining bioethylene by catalytically dehydrating advanced bioethanol from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), which will be referred to as such in this patent, said process being an example of a circular economy.