Levulinic Acid Purification via Double Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying levulinic acid from lignocellulosic biomass face challenges with high organic solvent usage costs and impurities like humins, leading to low yield and concentration, especially during distillation processes.
Innovation Solution
A double extraction process involving organic and aqueous extractions followed by membrane separation to enhance the yield and purity of levulinic acid, reducing impurities and simplifying subsequent purification steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If solvent extraction is used to purify levulinic acid, then the acid can be separated from the aqueous phase, but high amounts of organic solvent are consumed and humins remain in the organic phase causing problems in subsequent purification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction principle by using a water-immiscible solvent to extract levulinic acid from the aqueous hydrolysate phase. The organic solvent selectively dissolves levulinic acid while leaving humins and other water-soluble impurities in the aqueous phase, achieving separation without requiring large amounts of solvent through multiple extraction stages
Solution Approach 2:
The water-immiscible solvent acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the transfer of levulinic acid from the aqueous phase to the organic phase. This intermediary enables selective separation based on differential solubility, allowing purification while minimizing solvent consumption through efficient mass transfer
2Manufacturing precision
If distillation is performed on the organic phase containing levulinic acid, then the acid can be concentrated, but humins and impurities present in the organic phase lead to high amounts of impurities and lower concentration in the products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes humins and water-soluble impurities from the organic phase by washing with water or aqueous solutions. This extraction step transfers remaining water-soluble contaminants to the aqueous wash phase while retaining levulinic acid in the organic phase, significantly reducing impurity content before concentration
Solution Approach 2:
Water or aqueous solutions serve as intermediary washing agents that selectively remove impurities from the organic phase without extracting significant amounts of levulinic acid. This intermediary washing step cleanses the organic phase of humins and other contaminants, enabling subsequent distillation to produce high-purity concentrated levulinic acid
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple purification steps including distillation are used, then levulinic acid can be purified, but the process becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple purification functions into a single integrated extraction-washing process. By performing both separation from aqueous phase and removal of organic phase impurities through sequential extraction and washing steps, the method achieves comprehensive purification without requiring separate complex distillation columns and multiple processing units
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits changes in physical parameters such as solubility and phase distribution coefficients to achieve purification. By adjusting the water-immiscible solvent selection and washing conditions, the process optimizes levulinic acid transfer to organic phase while leaving impurities behind, simplifying the overall purification pathway through parameter-based separation
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 double extraction process achieves a purity of over 95% levulinic acid with reduced impurities, simplifying further purification and enabling cost-effective large-scale production by minimizing viscous residues during distillation.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the aqueous solution to an organic extraction to yield an organic solution and an aqueous solution
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the organic solution obtained in the previous step to an aqueous extraction to yield an aqueous solution, comprising levulinic acid, and an organic solution
Implementation Method 3
subjecting the aqueous solution comprising levulinic acid obtained in step (iii) to a membrane separation to yield an aqueous solution, comprising levulinic acid, and a residue
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention refers to a process for the purification of levulinic acid, an aqueous solution comprising levulinic acid and a process for the production of levulinic acid.