C5 C6 Saccharide Purification via Supercritical Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for converting lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars using supercritical or hot compressed water technologies face challenges in reducing the levels of undesirable impurities like aluminum, calcium, iron, and sulfur in C5 and C6 saccharide hydrolysates, which affect the efficiency and purity of sugar streams.
Innovation Solution
The development of compositions comprising water-soluble C5 and C6 saccharide hydrolysates processed using supercritical or near critical fluid extraction, with specific limits on impurity levels such as aluminum, calcium, iron, and sulfur, to enhance the purity and reduce the requirement for enzymatic hydrolysis enzymes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If supercritical or hot compressed water technology is used to convert lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars, then high throughput and separation of sugars are achieved, but undesirable impurities like aluminum, calcium, iron, and sulfur remain in the sugar streams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sugar stream into separate C5 and C6 fractions through selective precipitation and filtration processes. The C5 sugars (xylose, arabinose) are separated from C6 sugars (glucose, galactose) by adjusting pH and temperature conditions, allowing each fraction to be processed independently to remove specific impurities while maintaining high throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes undesirable impurities (aluminum, calcium, iron, sulfur) from the sugar streams through multiple treatment steps including filtration, precipitation, and ion exchange. Specific impurities are targeted and removed from the C5 and C6 sugar fractions, achieving high purity while preserving the high throughput capability of the supercritical water process.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional hydrolysis processes are used, then sugar production is achieved, but high levels of impurities require extensive purification and enzyme treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary purification actions during the hydrolysis process itself by using supercritical or hot compressed water to selectively dissolve and separate impurities from the sugar streams. This preliminary action reduces the burden of subsequent purification steps and enzyme treatments, simplifying the overall process while maintaining high sugar production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in temperature, pressure, and pH to control the solubility and separation of sugars from impurities. By adjusting these parameters during the hydrolysis and purification steps, the process achieves efficient sugar production with reduced impurity levels, avoiding complex purification equipment and extensive enzyme treatment.
3Reliability
If impurity levels in sugar streams are reduced, then fermentation efficiency is improved, but additional processing steps and resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the purification functions into the existing hydrolysis and sugar recovery process steps. By combining impurity removal with the standard C5/C6 separation and concentration steps, the process achieves high fermentation efficiency without requiring separate, energy-intensive purification units or additional processing resources.
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 approach results in high-purity saccharide compositions with reduced enzyme requirements, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of sugar stream processing and fermentation processes.
Implementation Method 1
processed from lignocellulosic biomass using supercritical or near critical fluid extraction
Implementation Method 2
The pre-treatment process hydrolyzes the hemicellulose component of the lignocellulosic biomass and cellulose hydrolysis (CH) process, as its name infers, hydrolyzes the cellulose fibers
Data Source
AI summary
Compositions comprising C5 and C6 saccharides of varying degrees of polymerization and low levels of undesirable impurities, such as compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, or metals, are disclosed.