Lignocellulosic Sugar Production via Two-Stage Enzyme Hydrolysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost of enzyme production and sugar degradation products in the process of converting lignocellulosic material into fermentation products hinders efficient production of sugar and biofuel, necessitating innovative process configurations to reduce overall production costs.

Innovation Solution

A process involving pretreatment, liquefaction, and saccharification of carbohydrate material using specific enzyme compositions and oxygen addition during saccharification, optimizing temperature and time conditions to enhance enzyme efficiency and reduce sugar loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional enzymatic hydrolysis is used to convert lignocellulosic material into sugars, then sugar production is achieved, but enzyme production costs are high and sugar degradation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesugar yieldVSAvoidenzyme cost and sugar degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing temperature conditions for different enzyme activities. Specifically, it uses a two-stage process: first stage at 50-60°C for endoglucanase and cellobiohydrolase activity, then second stage at 70-80°C for beta-glucosidase activity. This temperature parameter optimization maximizes sugar yield while minimizing enzyme costs and sugar degradation, directly resolving the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If higher enzyme amounts are used to increase conversion speed, then faster conversion rates are achieved, but overall production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion rateVSAvoidenzyme cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action through a two-stage hydrolysis process with distinct temperature phases. The first stage (50-60°C) operates for a specific duration to activate certain enzymes, then the second stage (70-80°C) follows for beta-glucosidase activity. This periodic temperature variation optimizes conversion rate across time while reducing total enzyme requirement, thereby lowering production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

By changing temperature parameters between stages, the patent achieves high conversion rates without proportionally increasing enzyme amounts. The temperature shift activates different enzyme sets sequentially, maximizing productivity while controlling enzyme costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If sugar degradation products increase, then fermentation is inhibited, but process design optimization is needed to decrease these products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefermentation efficiencyVSAvoidsugar degradation products
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parameter changes in temperature control to minimize sugar degradation. By maintaining lower temperatures (50-60°C) in the first stage and only raising to 70-80°C in the second stage, the process reduces thermal degradation of sugars. This protects fermentation efficiency while minimizing harmful degradation products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 improves the yield and reduces production costs by optimizing enzyme usage and minimizing sugar degradation, leading to more efficient conversion of lignocellulosic material into sugar and fermentation products.

Implementation Method 1

Process for producing sugars from carbohydrate materials by enzymatic hydrolysis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzymatic hydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

liquefying the pretreated carbohydrate material with an enzyme composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Implementation Method 3

wherein oxygen is added during saccharification

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP3802843B1Process for producing sugars from carbohydrate materials
Publication Date: 2023.03.29 VERSALIS SPA

AI summary

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a sugar and/or fermentation product from lignocellulosic material.10