Solid Saccharide Production via Carrier Liquid Evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for producing solid saccharides from biomass hydrolysates face challenges such as high heat requirements, acid decomposition, and large inventory needs due to the use of heated carrier liquids for evaporation, leading to inefficient removal of hydrochloric acid and water.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the admixture of an aqueous saccharide solution with a carrier liquid having a boiling point higher than water, where evaporation is conducted using a heated surface area, allowing for efficient removal of water and acid while minimizing the amount of carrier liquid required, thus reducing heat consumption and preventing saccharide decomposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a large amount of heated carrier liquid is used for evaporation, then hydrochloric acid and water can be removed effectively, but the inventory of carrier liquid becomes huge and heat consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the saccharides from the aqueous solution by precipitating them as solids during evaporation. The carrier liquid serves only as a medium for heat transfer and is separated from the solid saccharides, allowing the process to use minimal carrier liquid inventory while effectively removing water and hydrochloric acid through evaporation of the aqueous phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of saccharides from dissolved in aqueous solution to solid precipitate during evaporation. This parameter change allows the saccharides to be separated from the carrier liquid and enables efficient removal of water and hydrochloric acid through phase change, reducing both heat consumption and carrier liquid inventory requirements.
2Productivity
If high temperature evaporation is used to remove water and acid, then evaporation efficiency increases, but saccharide decomposition occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier liquid acts as an intermediary medium that facilitates heat transfer to the aqueous saccharide solution during evaporation. By using the carrier liquid as a heat transfer medium rather than direct heating, the process achieves efficient evaporation while maintaining temperature control that prevents saccharide decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transitions of water and hydrochloric acid from liquid to vapor during evaporation, while the saccharides remain as solid precipitate. This selective phase transition allows efficient removal of volatile components (water and acid) without subjecting the saccharides to temperatures that would cause decomposition.
3Loss of energy
If conventional evaporation methods are used, then water and acid can be removed, but large heat supply is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements continuous evaporation of the aqueous phase from the saccharide solution, with the carrier liquid continuously facilitating heat transfer. This continuous process efficiently removes water and hydrochloric acid while maintaining optimal heat transfer conditions, reducing overall heat supply requirements compared to batch conventional evaporation methods.
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 effectively produces solid saccharides with minimal acid and water content, using a smaller inventory of carrier liquid, reducing equipment size, and minimizing thermal decomposition risks, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective process.
Implementation Method 1
the aqueous admixture is subjected to an evaporation step, wherein the heat for the evaporation is at least partially supplied by a heated surface area, to yield a vapor fraction comprising water
Data Source
AI summary
Solid saccharides are produced from an aqueous saccharide solution in a process, wherein the aqueous saccharide solution is admixed with a carrier liquid in which the saccharides are insoluble and that has a boiling point higher than that of water to obtain an aqueous admixture, and wherein the aqueous admixture is subjected to an evaporation step, wherein the heat for the evaporation is at least partially supplied by a heated surface area,to yield a vapor fraction comprising water, and a residue fraction comprising solid saccharides and carrier liquid.