Bioisoprene Purification via Solvent Absorption and Steam Stripping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of isoprene from renewable sources often results in compositions containing impurities like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and bio-byproducts, which can reduce yield and generate undesirable reaction products, making purification necessary to meet industrial standards.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a solvent in a multi-column process to separate isoprene from volatile and bio-byproduct impurities in fermentor off-gas, achieving high purity levels through absorption and stripping processes, utilizing non-polar high-boiling point solvents and steam stripping to remove impurities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If isoprene is produced from renewable resources via fermentation, then environmental friendliness and renewability are improved, but the composition contains impurities (water vapor, carbon dioxide, bio-byproducts) that reduce yield and generate undesirable reaction products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts harmful impurities (water vapor, carbon dioxide, bio-byproducts) from the fermentation composition through a multi-step process: first removing water vapor and light hydrocarbons via distillation, then extracting carbon dioxide and bio-byproducts using supercritical fluid extraction or adsorption on solid supports, thereby obtaining purified isoprene suitable for polymerization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs intermediary substances and processes to remove impurities: using drying agents as intermediaries to remove water vapor, supercritical fluids (like carbon dioxide) as intermediary extraction media to remove carbon dioxide and bio-byproducts, and adsorbent materials as intermediaries to capture remaining impurities, thereby achieving high-purity isoprene
2Manufacturing precision
If purification processes are applied to remove impurities from bioisoprene, then isoprene purity is improved, but process complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the purification process into distinct sequential steps: first distillation to remove water vapor and light hydrocarbons, then supercritical fluid extraction or adsorption to remove carbon dioxide and bio-byproducts, and finally optional polishing steps. This segmentation allows each step to target specific impurities, improving overall efficiency while maintaining manageable process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes, particularly in supercritical fluid extraction where temperature and pressure are adjusted to optimize the extraction of different impurities. By controlling these parameters, the process efficiently removes carbon dioxide and bio-byproducts while minimizing energy consumption and process complexity
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
The method achieves isoprene purity greater than 90%, significantly reducing bio-byproduct and volatile impurities, making the purified isoprene suitable for polymerization and other industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the fermentor off-gas with a solvent in an apparatus including a first column to form: an isoprene-rich solution comprising the solvent, a major portion of the isoprene
Implementation Method 2
stripping isoprene from the isoprene-rich solution in the second column to form: an isoprene-lean solution comprising a major portion of the bio-byproduct impurity; and a purified isopene composition
Implementation Method 3
The vapor is then condensed in a condenser to recover the isoprene
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for the purification of isoprene, such as the purification of a bioisoprene composition from fermentor off-gas. The apparatus includes two columns that process the fermentor off-gas, which includes isoprene and various impurities. A solvent is added to the off-gas in the first column, and the isoprene is stripped from the solvent in the second column. Also provided is a downstream further purification process. Also provided are the resulting purified isoprene compositions.