Integrated Chemical Synthesis for Carbon Efficiency and Bio-Traceability
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing chemicals like beta-propiolactone and succinic anhydride are inefficient in terms of carbon utilization, as they rely on fossil sources and lack traceability of bio-based content, leading to environmental and economic challenges, particularly in biomass gasification and steam methane reforming processes.
Innovation Solution
An integrated process involving epoxide carbonylation that consumes carbon monoxide from syngas to produce upgraded gas streams with higher hydrogen-to-carbon monoxide ratios, allowing for the production of beta-propiolactone and succinic anhydride while maintaining or increasing bio-based content, and methods to determine the bio-based origin of these chemicals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water gas shift reaction is used to upgrade syngas, then hydrogen content is increased, but carbon efficiency is reduced due to CO2 emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful CO2 byproduct of water gas shift reaction into a useful resource by feeding it back to the gasifier. This creates a closed-loop system where CO2 is not emitted but rather recycled to produce additional syngas, thereby maintaining carbon efficiency while still achieving the desired hydrogen content upgrade through the water gas shift reaction.
2Productivity
If conventional chemical synthesis methods are used, then chemicals are produced, but bio-based content cannot be controlled or traced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using isotopic labeling (such as 13C or 14C enrichment) in specific positions within the chemical molecules. This allows traceability of bio-based content at the molecular level, enabling differentiation between bio-based and fossil-based carbon atoms in the final chemical product while maintaining full productivity of the synthesis process.
3Ease of manufacture
If fossil sources are used for chemical production, then economic viability is achieved, but environmental sustainability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of carbon source from fossil-based to bio-based by utilizing biomass gasification to produce syngas. This parameter change enables the production of chemicals with controlled bio-based content (e.g., 10-100% bio-based), achieving both economic viability through established chemical synthesis routes and environmental sustainability through renewable carbon sources.
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 enhances carbon efficiency by reducing CO2 emissions and allows for the production of chemicals with controlled bio-based content, addressing environmental concerns and economic viability in chemical production.
Implementation Method 1
contacting syngas derived from gasification of biomass or coal with an epoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst thereby consuming carbon monoxide from the syngas and producing an epoxide carbonylation product
Implementation Method 2
The water gas shift process consumes a portion of the carbon monoxide in the syngas releasing CO2 and providing additional hydrogen. CO+H2O=CO2+H2
Implementation Method 3
the processes first developed more than a century ago for coal gasification can be applied to practically any biomass input and the subsequent conversion of the resulting syngas to fuels and chemicals
Data Source
AI summary
The integrated processes herein provide improved carbon efficiency for processes based on coal or biomass gasification or steam methane reforming. Provided are also ethylene oxide carbonylation products such as beta-propiolactone and succinic anhydride having a bio-based content between 0% and 100%, and methods for producing and analyzing the same.