Thermally Phase-Separable Solvent Extraction for Xylose Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sugar purification methods, particularly for xylose from biomass hydrolysis solutions, require multiple steps and often rely on chromatographic techniques that are costly and challenging to maintain at an industrial scale, necessitating a more efficient and simplified process.
Innovation Solution
The method involves contacting a biomass hydrolysis solution with a thermally phase-separable extractant like 2-butoxyethanol or 1-propoxy-2-propanol to separate a refined sugar stream enriched in xylose, which can then be further purified using heat and potentially chromatographic techniques, reducing the need for extensive chromatographic steps and lowering costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If chromatographic techniques are used for sugar purification, then high purity sugar fractions can be obtained, but maintenance challenges and operational complexity increase at industrial level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the problematic chromatographic step from the purification sequence by introducing an extraction step using organic solvents (alkanes, esters, or ketones) that selectively partition sugars from the hydrolysis solution. This extraction step performs the primary purification function that would otherwise require complex chromatography, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining sugar purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the purification process by using liquid-liquid extraction with organic solvents instead of chromatographic separation. This parameter change (from solid-phase chromatography to liquid-phase extraction) simplifies the equipment needed while achieving comparable purification effectiveness, resolving the contradiction between purity and complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple extraction and chromatographic steps are combined, then high purity sugar fractions are achieved, but process complexity and number of steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the extraction and chromatography functions into a single integrated extraction step using organic solvents. By combining these separation techniques into one operation, the process achieves high sugar purity without requiring multiple sequential steps, thereby reducing overall process complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The organic solvent extraction system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it separates sugars from impurities, concentrates the sugar fraction, and prepares the stream for downstream processing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate extraction and chromatography steps, reducing the number of process steps while achieving high purity.
3Productivity
If conventional extraction techniques with solvents and extractants are used, then early purification is achieved, but further purification steps are still required to obtain high purity sugar fractions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the extraction parameters by selecting organic solvents with specific properties (alkanes, esters, or ketones) that provide both high extraction efficiency and sufficient purification capability in a single step. This parameter optimization allows the extraction to achieve both productivity and high sugar purity simultaneously, eliminating the need for additional purification steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite solvent systems or combinations of organic solvents with specific properties to enhance both extraction efficiency and purification capability. By carefully selecting and combining solvents, the system achieves high sugar purity in a single extraction step, resolving the contradiction between productivity and manufacturing precision.
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 isolates xylose with a purity of 75%-96% in a single extraction step, significantly reducing the complexity and cost of sugar purification by leveraging thermally phase-separable solvents to separate xylose from acids and impurities without relying heavily on chromatography.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a biomass hydrolysis solution that includes a population of mixed sugars, comprising xylose, an acid, and impurities, with a thermally phase-separable extractant to form an extraction mixture
Implementation Method 2
subjecting said extraction mixture to heat to as to separate from said extraction mixture a first stream that includes the chosen solvent, acid and impurities and a second, refined sugar stream
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of generating a refined sugar stream that comprises xylose from a biomass hydrolysis solution, including contacting a biomass hydrolysis solution that includes a population of mixed sugars comprising xylose, an acid, and impurities, with a thermally- phase separable solvent such as a glycol solvent to form an extraction mixture; and separating from said extraction mixture a first stream including the thermally-phase separable solvent, acid, and impurities and a second, refined sugar stream that comprises xylose. The thermally-phase separable solvent is an ethylene glycol or a propylene glycol ether, such as 2-butoxyethanol or 1 -propoxy-propanol or any combination thereof.