Nickel Catalyst Hydrogenation for High-Concentration Bio-Based Adipic Acid

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing biobased adipic acid face challenges such as high costs due to the use of precious metal catalysts, low substrate concentration, high energy consumption, poor gas-liquid dispersion, safety hazards from hydrogen, and difficulty in achieving continuous industrial production.

Innovation Solution

A nickel-based hydrogenation catalyst is developed using a precipitation-deposition method, which is cost-effective, highly active, and selective, allowing for high substrate concentration and continuous production in batch or microreaction systems, enhancing catalytic performance and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If precious metal catalysts (Pd, Pt) are used for catalytic hydrogenation of muconic acid, then high yield and selectivity of adipic acid are achieved, but production cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield and selectivity of adipic acidVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive precious metal catalysts (Pd, Pt) with a cost-effective nickel-based catalyst supported on basic alumina. This substitution dramatically reduces production costs while maintaining high catalytic activity and selectivity for adipic acid synthesis from muconic acid

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite catalyst system consisting of nickel metal particles dispersed on basic alumina support. This composite structure combines the high catalytic activity of nickel with the basic properties of alumina, creating a synergistic effect that achieves both cost reduction and maintained manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If low substrate concentration (≤10 g/L) is used in catalytic hydrogenation, then reaction conditions are easier to control, but production intensity and reactor efficiency decrease significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of reaction conditionsVSAvoidproduction intensity of reactor
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the substrate concentration parameter from traditional low levels (≤10 g/L) to high levels (200 g/L). This parameter change is enabled by the improved catalyst system, which maintains reaction controllability while dramatically increasing production intensity and reactor efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If organic solvents (ethanol, amyl alcohol) are used for catalytic hydrogenation, then reaction efficiency is improved, but environmental greenness and sustainability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction efficiencyVSAvoidenvironmental pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the solvent parameter from organic solvents (ethanol, amyl alcohol) to water as the reaction medium. This substitution maintains reaction efficiency while eliminating the environmental harm associated with organic solvent usage, achieving a green and sustainable hydrogenation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If high hydrogen pressure (3.4 MPa) is applied for catalytic hydrogenation, then conversion rate of muconic acid is improved, but safety risks and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion rate of muconic acidVSAvoidsafety hazards from hydrogen
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces the hydrogen pressure parameter from high levels (3.4 MPa) to moderate levels (0.5-3.0 MPa). This parameter reduction lowers safety risks and energy consumption while maintaining high conversion rates through the enhanced catalytic activity of the nickel-based catalyst system

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

The method achieves a high yield of biobased adipic acid with 100% selectivity and 200 g/L substrate concentration, reducing production costs and enabling efficient, safe, and scalable industrial production.

Implementation Method 1

catalytic hydrogenation of biobased muconic acid... under the action of the nickel-based hydrogenation catalyst

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

catalytic hydrogenation of biobased muconic acid... to prepare biobased adipic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogenation: Hydrogenation

Implementation Method 3

A nickel-based hydrogenation catalyst is developed using a precipitation-deposition method

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Implementation Method 4

A nickel-based hydrogenation catalyst is developed using a precipitation-deposition method

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4684875A1Method for preparing bio-based adipic acid
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 BEIJING UNIV OF CHEM TECH
  • EP4684875A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4684875A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4684875A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a preparation method of biobased adipic acid. In the method, by using a nickel-based hydrogenation catalyst provided by the present invention, when a substrate concentration is as high as 200 g/L, the reaction of biobased sodium muconate and hydrogen is catalyzed in a batch reactor and a micro packed bed to prepare sodium adipate, and the yield of a target product is close to 100 mol%. Wherein the biobased sodium muconate is biobased sodium muconate obtained by microbial fermentation. The method has the advantages of short reaction path, good economy, and easy large-scale preparation, and lays a solid foundation for the industrialization of green synthesis of the biobased adipic acid.