Polysaccharide Conversion in Molten Salt Hydrate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing isosorbide from polysaccharides, such as cellulose, face challenges in achieving high yields while minimizing by-product formation and separating glucose from dissolution agents in hydrolysis processes, with issues like degradation and inefficient separation procedures.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the sequential steps of hydrolysis, hydrogenation, and dehydration of polysaccharides using an inorganic molten salt hydrate, specifically with Zn, Ca, or Li halides, and additional transition metal salts, to convert cellulose to anhydro polyols like isosorbide, with optimized conditions for temperature, acid molality, and catalyst use to enhance selectivity and conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If concentrated acid hydrolysis is used to produce sugars from cellulosic material, then higher yields are achieved, but difficulties in sugar recovery and acid separation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the acid catalyst from the reaction mixture after hydrolysis, separating it from the sugar products. This is achieved through processes like neutralization and filtration, allowing high-yield hydrolysis to occur while eliminating the separation difficulties associated with concentrated acid recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (such as ion-exchange resins or base solutions) to facilitate the separation of acid from sugars. This intermediary mediates the interaction between acid and sugar, enabling efficient separation without direct complex processing of the acid-sugar mixture
2Device complexity
If diluted acid hydrolysis is used to produce sugars from cellulosic material, then acid removal and separation are simplified, but yield is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the hydrolysis process by using optimized acid concentrations, temperatures, and reaction times to achieve high yields with diluted acid. By adjusting these parameters, the process maintains simplicity in acid removal while significantly improving sugar yield compared to traditional diluted acid methods
3Productivity
If cellulose is dissolved in concentrated metal halides for hydrolysis, then hydrolysis rate and yield are improved, but glucose degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary dissolution of cellulose in concentrated metal halide solutions before adding the acid catalyst for hydrolysis. This preliminary action prepares the cellulose in a soluble state, enabling faster and more complete hydrolysis while controlling the reaction conditions to prevent glucose degradation during the subsequent hydrolysis step
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the concentration of metal halide and acid catalyst during the hydrolysis process. By optimizing the timing and concentration of acid addition to dissolved cellulose, the process achieves high hydrolysis rates while minimizing conditions that lead to glucose degradation
4Productivity
If multiple processing steps are used for acid neutralization, concentration, and precipitation, then sugar recovery is achieved, but process complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple processing steps (neutralization, concentration, and precipitation) into integrated or simultaneous operations. For example, neutralization is performed while concentrating the solution, or precipitation occurs during filtration, reducing the total number of separate steps and overall processing time while maintaining effective sugar recovery
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 effectively increases the yield of isosorbide with reduced by-product formation, improves glucose separation, and enhances the conversion of cellulose to platform chemicals, addressing the limitations of existing technologies by utilizing molten salt hydrates and transition metal salts to control reaction conditions.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the polysaccharide with a molten salt hydrate composition and an inorganic soluble acid, recovering the soluble hydrolysis sugar products
Implementation Method 2
contacting the molten salt hydrate composition and sugars mixture obtained in step a) with a hydrogenation catalyst and hydrogen until full conversion of sugars to polyols
Implementation Method 3
increasing the temperature of the inorganic molten salt hydrate composition and polyols mixture to effect full dehydration of polyols to dehydration products
Data Source
AI summary
A process is disclosed for converting polysaccharides to platform chemicals. The process comprises dissolving the polysaccharides in a inorganic molten salt hydrate, converting the polysaccharides to monosaccharides, and converting the monosaccharides to platform chemicals that are easily separable from the inorganic molten salt hydrate.Preferably the polysaccharides are provided in the form of a biomass, more preferably a ligno-cellulosic biomass.