Perovskite Catalyst for Sugar Conversion Without Base

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for transforming sugars and sugar alcohols into mono- or poly-oxidized compounds require additional bases and result in hydrothermally unstable catalysts, leading to aggregation of metal particles and loss of activity and selectivity.

Innovation Solution

A method using hydrothermally stable heterogeneous catalysts with metals from groups 8 to 11 deposited on perovskites or oxides of lanthanum, neodymium, yttrium, and cerium, doped with alkaline or rare earth elements, without an additional base, under specific temperature and pressure conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional heterogeneous catalysts with high specific surface area substrates are used, then catalytic activity is improved, but hydrothermal stability deteriorates leading to metal particle aggregation and catalyst deactivation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalytic activityVSAvoidhydrothermal stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the structural parameters of the substrate by using perovskite-type materials with specific stoichiometry (ABO3) and controlled surface area (50-200 m²/g), replacing conventional high surface area substrates that aggregate under hydrothermal conditions. This parameter change maintains catalytic activity while preventing metal particle aggregation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite catalyst system combining hydrogenating metals (Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru) deposited on perovskite substrates with alkaline-earth metal oxide dopants (CaO, SrO, BaO). This composite structure provides both catalytic activity and hydrothermal stability, preventing substrate degradation under reaction conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If additional bases are added to the reaction system, then transformation efficiency is improved, but process complexity and product separation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransformation efficiencyVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The perovskite substrate itself provides the basic catalytic sites needed for the transformation reaction, eliminating the need for external base additives. The substrate's surface chemistry automatically facilitates the reaction without requiring additional base components, simplifying the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the additional base component from the conventional catalyst system, relying solely on the perovskite substrate and deposited metal for catalysis. This extraction simplifies the reaction system and eliminates the need for base neutralization and separation steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If conventional catalyst substrates are used under hydrothermal conditions, then initial catalytic activity is achieved, but catalyst regeneration frequency increases due to aggregation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial catalytic activityVSAvoidcatalyst lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The perovskite substrate structure is designed beforehand to resist hydrothermal degradation and prevent metal particle aggregation before it can occur. The stable crystalline framework cushions against the harmful effects of hydrothermal conditions, maintaining catalyst structure and activity over extended periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The catalyst is pre-treated by depositing metal particles on the perovskite substrate under controlled conditions before introduction to hydrothermal reaction conditions. This preliminary arrangement ensures optimal metal dispersion and anchoring, preventing aggregation during subsequent reaction and extending catalyst lifetime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 maintains catalyst stability and activity, reducing the specific surface area by no more than 30%, enabling efficient conversion of sugars and sugar alcohols into mono- or poly-oxidized products without the need for additional bases.

Implementation Method 1

The invention relates to the conversion of bio-sourced compounds into intermediate products of chemistry and the use of hydrothermally stable basic substrates without adding an additional base for the transformation of sugars and sugar alcohols into mono- or poly-oxidized compounds

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

a heterogeneous catalyst that consists of a hydrogenating metal deposited on a substrate in the presence of hydrogen pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogenation: Hydrogenation

Data Source

PatentUS10252960B2Method for transforming sugars and sugar alcohols into mono- and poly-oxidized compounds in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst
Publication Date: 2019.04.09 IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES

AI summary

The invention concerns a method for converting a feedstock selected from sugars or sugar alcohols, alone or in a mixture, into mono- or polyoxygenated compounds, wherein the feedstock is contacted with at least one heterogeneous catalyst comprising a support selected from perovskites of formula ABO3, in which A is selected from the elements Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba and B is selected from the elements Fe, Mn, Ti and Zr, and the oxides of elements selected from lanthanum, neodymium, yttrium and cerium, alone or in a mixture, which oxides can be doped with at least one element selected from alkali metals, alkaline earths and rare earths, in a reducing atmosphere, at a temperature of 100° C. to 300° C. and at a pressure of 0.1 MPa to 50 MPa.