Wood-Based MEG Production with Controlled Chip Pretreatment

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of feedstock type from petroleum-based to wood-based renewable resources. The process parameters including pretreatment conditions, enzymatic hydrolysis parameters, and catalytic conversion conditions are optimized to achieve efficient production from the new feedstock type, resolving the contradiction between using renewable resources and maintaining productivity

The patent replaces the conventional petroleum refining mechanical/chemical processes with a bio-based processing system involving pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and catalytic conversion. This substitution enables the use of renewable wood-based feedstock while maintaining production efficiency through optimized process conditions

The patent introduces a specific parameter control for wood chip size (thickness between 3-8 mm) to optimize the impregnation process. This parameter change ensures homogeneous impregnation of the wood-based feedstock while maintaining reasonable operational simplicity through standardized chip size specifications

The patent employs steam explosion pretreatment using hydraulic/thermal energy to uniformly penetrate and treat the wood chips. This method ensures homogeneous impregnation and pretreatment effect by using steam pressure and heat distribution throughout the wood chip matrix, overcoming the issue of uneven treatment that would occur with uncontrolled chip sizes