Propene Production via Renewable IBE Fermentation and Metathesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional propene production methods are limited by fluctuations in petrochemical processes and environmental concerns, with existing renewable pathways not efficiently utilizing carbon from IBE fermentation products for high propene yield.
Innovation Solution
A process involving IBE fermentation to produce a mixture of alcohols (isopropanol, 1-butanol, and ethanol) followed by joint dehydration and subsequent isomerization/metathesis steps to maximize propene production, adjusting ethene:butene ratios for optimal conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional petrochemical processes are used for propene production, then production stability is maintained, but environmental sustainability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the raw material parameter from petrochemical feedstocks to renewable biomass resources, transforming the production pathway to achieve environmental sustainability while maintaining production stability through controlled fermentation and catalytic conversion processes
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary fermentation pathway that converts renewable biomass into alcohol mixtures (ethanol, propanol, butanol), which then serve as feedstocks for propene production, thereby mediating between renewable resources and stable propene output
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing renewable pathways are used, then environmental sustainability is improved, but carbon utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple alcohol dehydration pathways (ethanol to ethene, propanol to propene, butanol to butenes) into a unified catalytic system that processes the entire alcohol mixture from IBE fermentation, maximizing carbon utilization efficiency by converting all carbon-containing products into valuable olefins including propene
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes the molar ratio parameter of ethene to butenes in the dehydration step, controlling it to fall within 1:1 to 1.3:1 to maximize propene yield through subsequent metathesis reactions, thereby achieving carbon yield greater than 90%
3Manufacturing precision
If separate processing of alcohols is used, then product purity is improved, but process complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the dehydration of multiple different alcohols (ethanol, propanol, butanol) into a single catalytic reaction step that produces a mixture of olefins, which are then processed through metathesis reactions to generate propene, thereby simplifying the overall process while maintaining product purity through selective catalysis and ratio control
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
Achieves a carbon yield of propene greater than 90% from the alcohols produced in IBE fermentation, enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of propene production from renewable sources.
Implementation Method 1
joint dehydration of the alcohols to produce a mixture of olefins comprising chiefly ethene, propene and linear butenes, besides water
Implementation Method 2
passing the mixture of olefins through an isomerization bed so that 1-butene is isomerized to 2-butene
Implementation Method 3
passing the mixture of olefins comprising chiefly ethene, propene and 2-butenes through a metathesis bed, for reaction between ethene and 2-butenes, generating additional propene
Implementation Method 4
IBE (Isopropanol-1-Butanol-Ethanol) fermentation from at least one renewable source of carbon
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for the production of propene from a mixture of alcohols obtained from at least one renewable source of carbon, comprising the following steps: (a) fermentation of at least one renewable source of carbon for the production of a mixture of alcohols comprising ethanol, isopropanol and 1-butanol; (b) simplified removal of the alcohols from the fermentative wort to generate an aqueous solution containing chiefly ethanol, isopropanol and 1-butanol; (c) joint dehydration of the alcohols to produce a mixture of olefins comprising chiefly ethene, propene and linear butenes, the linear butenes being a mixture of 1-butene and 2-butenes (cis and trans isomers), besides water and by-products, among which oxygenated compounds; (d) removal of water, oxygenated compounds and other by-products to generate a mixture of olefins comprising chiefly ethene, propene and linear butenes; and (f) passing the mixture of olefins through an isomerized bed, so that 1-butene will be isomerized to 2-butenes and, subsequently, passing the mixture of olefins comprising chiefly ethene, propene and 2-butenes through a metathesis bed, for reaction between ethene and 2-butenes, generating additional propene, the molar ratio ethene:linear butenes being corrected to be between 1:1 and 1.3:1, by means of one of the alternatives selected from the group comprising: (i) addition of a stream containing ethanol to the process in step (c); (ii) addition of a stream containing ethene to the process in step (e); (iii) addition of a stream containing ethanol to the process in step (c) and a stream containing ethene in step (e).