Saccharide Solution Treatment via Heat and Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing organic compounds from saccharides derived from non-edible materials face challenges such as degradation of saccharides, generation of fermentation inhibitors like furfural, and difficulties in selectively removing these inhibitors, leading to reduced yield and increased costs due to adsorption methods, and the introduction of metal salts from reduction methods.

Innovation Solution

A method combining heat treatment and reduction steps using sulfurous acid compounds or ionic compounds containing sulfur and ammonium ions to reduce carbonyl compounds in saccharide solutions, maintaining sterilization and improving saccharide solution efficiency for fermentative production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If adsorption methods using active carbon are used to remove fermentation inhibitors, then the yield of fermentative production is improved, but the saccharide concentration decreases and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield of fermentative productionVSAvoidsaccharide concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes fermentation inhibitors (carbonyl compounds) from the saccharide solution through selective adsorption or chemical transformation, separating the harmful substances from the valuable saccharides without significant loss of saccharide concentration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary substances such as ammonium ions or other reagents that react with carbonyl compounds to form removable complexes, enabling selective removal of inhibitors while preserving saccharides

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If adsorption methods using active carbon are used to remove fermentation inhibitors, then the yield of fermentative production is improved, but production costs increase due to adsorbent production and regeneration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield of fermentative productionVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs low-cost, easily replaceable removing agents such as ammonium salts or simple chemical reagents that can be added in small amounts and do not require expensive regeneration processes, replacing the need for costly adsorbent regeneration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the system by adjusting pH, temperature, or adding specific reagents to transform carbonyl compounds into removable forms, providing a cost-effective alternative to physical adsorption methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If reduction methods using reducing agents are used to remove fermentation inhibitors, then the yield of fermentative production is improved, but metal salt content increases causing coloration issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield of fermentative productionVSAvoidmetal salt content and coloration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes metal salts and coloration byproducts through additional purification steps such as ion exchange, filtration, or chemical precipitation, separating these harmful substances from the treated saccharide solution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary substances that selectively bind to metal ions or coloration compounds, enabling their removal without affecting the saccharides or requiring expensive metal-free reducing agents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If heat treatment is applied to sterilize saccharide solution, then microorganism multiplication is controlled, but saccharide degradation increases generating more fermentation inhibitors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterilization effectVSAvoidcarbonyl compound concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary removal of carbonyl compounds through chemical treatment or selective adsorption before heat treatment, preventing their formation during sterilization or enabling effective removal after mild heat treatment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic or staged treatment processes, alternating between mild heat treatment for sterilization and chemical treatment for carbonyl compound removal, achieving both sterilization and inhibitor removal without excessive saccharide degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic 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 method effectively reduces carbonyl compounds, enhancing the yield of organic compounds by improving microorganism multiplication and fermentative productivity while avoiding increased metal content and coloration issues, thus simplifying the production process.

Implementation Method 1

a method combining heat treatment and reduction steps using sulfurous acid compounds or ionic compounds containing sulfur and ammonium ions to reduce carbonyl compounds in saccharide solutions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReduction: Reduction

Implementation Method 2

A method combining heat treatment and reduction steps using sulfurous acid compounds or ionic compounds containing sulfur and ammonium ions to reduce carbonyl compounds in saccharide solutions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS10370684B2Treatment method of saccharide solution
Publication Date: 2019.08.06 MITSUBISHI CHEM CORP

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for treating a solution containing a saccharide comprising a heat treatment step of heating the saccharide solution at a temperature of 100° C. or higher and 180° C. or lower and a reduction step of reacting a reducing agent with the saccharide solution heated in the heat treatment step, a method for producing a treated saccharide solution using the treatment method, a treated saccharide solution obtained through treatment by the treatment method, a method for producing an organic compound comprising an organic-matter production step of obtaining an organic compound by causing a microorganism capable of producing organic matter to act on an organic raw material containing the treated saccharide solution and a method for culturing a microorganism using the treated saccharide solution as a carbon source.