Compressed-Gas Lignin Oil Extraction With Low Solvent Ratios
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lignin extraction processes, such as organosolv and reductive catalytic fractionation, face challenges with high capital expenditure due to unrealistically high solvent-to-biomass ratios, leading to condensation reactions and equipment fouling, resulting in low delignification rates and inefficient production of high-value lignin monomers.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a lignocellulosic feedstock treated with a polar organic solvent and inorganic acid in the presence of a compressed gas at elevated temperatures and pressures, allowing for high delignification rates and production of a crude liquid lignin oil (CLO) with low molecular weight and low glass transition temperature, thereby reducing capital expenditure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high solvent-to-biomass ratios are used in organosolv and reductive catalytic fractionation processes, then lignin extraction efficiency is improved, but capital expenditure increases and equipment fouling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the organic solvent from liquid to supercritical phase by adjusting temperature and pressure parameters. This supercritical state enables high lignin extraction efficiency while using lower solvent-to-biomass ratios, thereby reducing capital expenditure and preventing equipment fouling associated with handling large volumes of liquid solvent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of the organic solvent to supercritical state. By heating and pressurizing the solvent above its critical point, it achieves enhanced solubility and diffusivity for lignin extraction without requiring excessive solvent quantities, thus resolving the contradiction between extraction efficiency and operational complexity.
2Productivity
If high solvent-to-biomass ratios are used to achieve high delignification rates, then delignification efficiency is improved, but condensation reactions occur and equipment fouling increases
Solution Approach 1:
By transitioning the organic solvent to supercritical phase, the patent achieves high delignification rates with reduced solvent quantities. The supercritical state provides unique solvation properties that prevent condensation reactions and minimize fouling, allowing efficient delignification without the harmful effects associated with high liquid solvent ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies temperature and pressure parameters to achieve supercritical conditions. These parameter changes transform the solvent's physical and chemical properties, enabling effective delignification while suppressing condensation reactions and reducing equipment fouling through the solvent's enhanced diffusivity and reduced surface tension in supercritical state.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional organosolv processes use aqueous organic solutions with high water content, then hemicellulose solubilization is improved, but solvent recovery costs increase and process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses supercritical phase transition of the organic solvent to achieve hemicellulose solubilization without requiring high water content. The supercritical state provides enhanced solvation capability that can dissolve hemicellulose effectively, and upon depressurization, the solvent easily separates from the products, simplifying recovery and reducing process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing temperature and pressure parameters to achieve supercritical conditions, the patent enables effective hemicellulose solubilization with reduced water content. The supercritical solvent's tunable properties allow selective solubilization while facilitating easy phase separation and solvent recovery, thereby reducing both process complexity and recovery costs.
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 process achieves high delignification rates, producing a liquid lignin composition with improved processability and reduced downstream processing costs, enabling efficient extraction of lignin oligomers and methylated sugars.
Implementation Method 1
Acids such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, formic acid and acetic acid are being used as co-catalysts, cleaving the lignin-carbohydrate linkages, releasing lignin from the lignocellulosic matrix
Implementation Method 2
the inorganic acid and the compressed gas into the reactor which increases the reactor pressure above the vapour pressure of the solvent used. As a result of adding the compressed gas, the polar organic solvent is kept in its liquid phase during the reaction
Data Source
AI summary
A process for the production of a liquid lignin composition, in particular to a method for obtaining a lignin composition using a compressed gas and acid assisted process, wherein a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock is treated with a polar organic solvent using an inorganic acid to assist in the release of lignin into the polar organic solvent and the use of compressed gas to keep the polar organic solvent in its liquid phase.