Solid Base Catalyst Glucose Isomerization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for isomerizing glucose into fructose are costly and inefficient, with high enzyme requirements, long reaction times, and low selectivity, making them unsuitable for industrial-scale production and application on raw biomass materials.
Innovation Solution
A method using a solid basic catalyst, such as lanthanide oxide or molecular sieves, that operates without thermal decarbonation activation, characterized by reversible CO2 adsorption at low temperatures, allowing for efficient isomerization of glucose into fructose with improved yield and selectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If enzymatic method with immobilized xylose isomerase is used, then fructose can be produced, but substantial amounts of enzyme are required and cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive immobilized enzymes with inexpensive solid base catalysts that can be used as disposable or easily regenerable materials. The solid base catalysts achieve comparable or superior fructose production without the high costs associated with enzyme procurement and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental reaction parameters by operating at higher temperatures (80-180°C) compared to enzymatic methods, which allows the use of solid base catalysts instead of temperature-sensitive enzymes, thereby reducing catalyst cost while maintaining fructose production efficiency.
2Reliability
If enzymatic method with immobilized xylose isomerase is used, then fructose can be produced, but reaction time is very long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dramatically reduces reaction time by changing the temperature parameter from ambient/low temperatures required by enzymes to elevated temperatures (80-180°C) that enable rapid catalysis with solid base catalysts, achieving fructose production in minutes rather than hours.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the biological enzymatic system with a chemical solid base catalyst system that operates under different physical conditions (higher temperature, no biological constraints), thereby eliminating the slow reaction kinetics inherent to enzymatic processes.
3Productivity
If methods with sodium hydroxide catalyst are used, then isomerisation can be achieved, but selectivity is rapidly lost over time due to secondary reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the homogeneous sodium hydroxide catalyst with a solid base catalyst that can be easily separated from the reaction mixture. This prevents the catalyst from continuing to promote secondary reactions after the main reaction is complete, thereby maintaining selectivity throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful uncontrolled catalytic activity by using a solid base catalyst that can be physically separated from the reaction mixture, removing the source of secondary reactions while retaining the beneficial isomerisation activity during the reaction period.
4Productivity
If homogeneous bases are used as catalysts, then isomerisation can be achieved, but aqueous effluents are generated that require reprocessing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes homogeneous aqueous base catalysts with solid base catalysts, changing the physical state of the catalyst from dissolved to solid. This allows for easy filtration and separation, eliminating the need to reprocess large volumes of aqueous effluents while maintaining catalytic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs solid base catalysts with porous structures that provide high surface area for catalysis while maintaining solid-phase integrity. This enables efficient catalysis with minimal catalyst leaching into the aqueous phase, reducing effluent treatment requirements.
5Reliability
If existing solid basic catalysts are used, then isomerisation can be achieved, but thermal decarbonation activation is required which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses solid base catalysts that can be used directly without requiring complex thermal decarbonation activation procedures. The catalysts are designed to be ready-to-use upon simple drying, eliminating the need for sophisticated activation equipment and procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates CO2 adsorption capacity directly into the catalyst formulation during manufacturing, so that the catalysts are pre-equipped to handle CO2 interference in the reaction environment without requiring subsequent activation treatments.
6Adaptability or versatility
If methods are applied to raw biomass materials, then substrate availability is improved, but existing methods are sensitive to pH, temperature, and inhibitors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent operates at elevated temperatures (80-180°C) and neutral to basic pH conditions that are tolerant of the variable composition of raw biomass materials. These conditions are less sensitive to pH fluctuations, temperature variations, and the presence of common biomass inhibitors compared to enzymatic or acidic methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses robust solid base catalysts that are insensitive to inhibition by biomass-derived compounds, unlike enzymes that are easily inhibited. The solid base catalysts maintain stable activity even in the presence of various impurities found in raw biomass materials.
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 achieves high glucose conversion, fructose yield, and selectivity within a short time frame, reducing costs and operational complexity, and can be applied to raw biomass materials without the need for high-temperature pretreatment.
Implementation Method 1
the reversibility of the CO2 adsorption isotherms at low temperature, notably at 30° C., and preferably by a differential CO2 adsorption heat, measured at 30° C., comprised between 60 and 110 kJ·mol−1
Implementation Method 2
differential CO2 adsorption heat, measured at 30° C., comprised between 60 and 110 kJ·mol−1
Implementation Method 3
isomerisation of glucose into fructose in water in the presence of a solid basic catalyst
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the isomerization of glucose into fructose in water in the presence of a solid base catalyst characterized by its reversibility of CO2 adsorption at a low temperature, the catalyst being a catalyst comprising at least one supported or non-supported lanthanide oxide or a molecular sieve based on silicon containing the organic template thereof. The invention also relates to a method for preparing HMF from glucose, comprising the isomerization of glucose into fructose.