Ionic Liquid Recovery via Hydrocarbon Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biomass pretreatment methods for biofuel production face challenges in efficiently recovering ionic liquids, which are energy-intensive and costly, and lack effective methods for extracting lignin and sugars from ionic liquid biomass pretreatment processes.
Innovation Solution
A novel composition and method using a mixture of water-miscible ionic liquids, polar-aprotic solvents, and polar-protic solvents, along with ketones and alcohols, to phase-separate and recover ionic liquids, precipitate cellulose and lignocellulosic biomass without forming gel phases, and extract lignin and sugars, optimizing solvent usage and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ionic liquid is used for biomass pretreatment, then cellulose dissolution and precipitation efficiency is improved, but ionic liquid recovery becomes energy-intensive and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts ionic liquid from the aqueous phase using hydrocarbon solvents (hexane, heptane, or octane). The ionic liquid partitions into the hydrocarbon phase, allowing separation from the aqueous phase containing precipitated cellulose. This extraction method enables recovery of ionic liquid without energy-intensive distillation, directly resolving the contradiction between pretreatment efficiency and recovery energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the system by introducing hydrocarbon solvents with specific properties (non-polar, immiscible with water). This parameter change allows the ionic liquid to transfer phases from aqueous to hydrocarbon phase, enabling low-energy recovery through simple phase separation instead of thermal distillation.
2Productivity
If conventional precipitating agents are used, then cellulose precipitation is achieved, but gel phase formation occurs requiring excess solvent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite solvent system combining water (aqueous phase) and hydrocarbon solvent (organic phase). This composite approach creates a biphasic system where cellulose precipitates in the aqueous phase while ionic liquid transfers to the hydrocarbon phase. The composite material approach prevents gel formation by maintaining phase separation, allowing efficient precipitation with minimal solvent excess.
3Manufacturing precision
If ionic liquid is used for biomass dissolution, then amorphous cellulose structure is obtained, but lignin and sugars extraction methods are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the hydrocarbon solvent system multi-functional: it extracts ionic liquid from the aqueous phase, simultaneously extracts lignin from the biomass, and allows recovery of sugars in the aqueous phase. This universal extraction approach resolves the contradiction by providing a single solvent system that handles multiple separation tasks, enhancing versatility while maintaining cellulose structure quality.
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 approach enables efficient recycling of ionic liquids, reduces energy consumption, and effectively separates and recovers lignin and sugars, enhancing the economic viability of biofuel production by minimizing solvent use and processing costs.
Implementation Method 1
biomass is dissolved in an IL
Implementation Method 2
carbohydrates, such as hemicellulose and cellulose, are precipitated on the addition of an anti-solvent, such as water
Implementation Method 3
the partitioning coefficients of the desired solutes are appropriate for liquid-liquid extraction
Implementation Method 4
The most common approach to recover the ionic liquid is to simply distill off solvents (including water) that dilute ionic liquids
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides for novel compositions and methods for recycling or recovering ionic liquid used in IL pretreated cellulose and/or lignocellulosic biomass (LBM).