Protic and Phosphate Ionic Liquids for Lignocellulosic Pretreatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biomass pretreatment methods using ionic liquids are costly and complex, requiring severe conditions and additional steps for IL recycle, biomass solute separation, and downstream processing, especially in varying pH conditions, which hinders efficient transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into alternative fuels and chemicals.
Innovation Solution
The use of protic ionic liquids (PIL) and phosphate-based ionic liquids (PBIL), or their mixtures, for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment, which operate at less severe conditions, are tunable over a wide pH range without additional steps, and provide higher sugar yields, reducing pretreatment costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ionic liquids are used for biomass pretreatment, then effective dissolution and fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass is achieved, but the cost of ionic liquids and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of ionic liquids by using protic ionic liquids (PILs) and phosphate-based ionic liquids (PBILs) with different pH ranges (pH 2-12) compared to conventional imidazolium-based ILs. This parameter change allows effective biomass pretreatment under milder conditions while reducing system complexity for recycle and separation operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops ionic liquids that can operate across a wide pH range (pH 2-12) to perform multiple functions: pretreatment of biomass, enzymatic hydrolysis facilitation, and direct conversion to ethanol without requiring separate pH adjustment steps. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity by eliminating additional processing units
2Productivity
If severe pretreatment conditions are used with conventional ionic liquids, then effective biomass processing is achieved, but additional steps for IL recycle and biomass solute separation are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses PILs and PBILs that operate at less severe pretreatment conditions (lower temperatures and milder pH) compared to conventional ILs, enabling effective biomass processing while avoiding the formation of recalcitrant byproducts that would require additional separation steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and utilizes the key functional components (protic ions and phosphate groups) from complex conventional ionic liquid systems, creating simplified PIL and PBIL formulations that maintain high productivity while reducing the number of process steps needed for recycle and separation
3Reliability
If conventional ionic liquids are used for pretreatment, then biomass fractionation is achieved, but downstream processing in different pH conditions becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a universal pH-adjustable ionic liquid system (PILs and PBILs with pH 2-12) that can perform both biomass fractionation and facilitate downstream enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation in a single pretreatment step, eliminating the need for separate pH adjustment processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of biomass pretreatment, pH adjustment, and enzymatic hydrolysis facilitation into a single ionic liquid treatment step. The PIL/PBIL system simultaneously achieves fractionation and creates optimal conditions for downstream processing without requiring additional pH adjustment steps
4Productivity
If costly ionic liquids are used for pretreatment, then effective sugar yield is achieved, but pretreatment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs PILs and PBILs that can be used at lower concentrations and require fewer recycling steps compared to conventional expensive ILs. The simplified recycle process and reduced need for high IL concentrations make the overall pretreatment process more cost-effective while maintaining high sugar yields
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the economic parameters by using ionic liquids with different chemical compositions (PILs and PBILs) that achieve comparable or superior sugar yields at lower operational costs, including reduced energy consumption for heating and simplified separation operations
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
These novel ILs enable efficient pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass with high sugar yields, low toxicity, and biocompatibility, allowing for direct conversion into ethanol via simultaneous saccharification and fermentation without pH adjustments or water washing, thereby reducing process complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
Lignocellulosic biomass can be effectively dissolved and fractionated by imidazolium based ionic liquids (ILs)
Implementation Method 2
allowing for direct conversion into ethanol via simultaneous saccharification and fermentation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides for novel protic ionic liquids (PIL) or phosphate-based ionic liquid (PBIL) useful for lignocellulosic processing described herein. The novel protic ionic liquids are capable of pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass over a wide range of pH.