Xylulose Isomerization via Butanol Solvent and Solid Catalyst
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for converting glucose to fructose and xylose to xylulose using enzymes are costly and sensitive to process conditions, and existing heterogeneous catalytic processes fail to achieve high yields and efficient separation of products.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of butanol as a solvent and either a magnesium-containing hydrotalcite as a solid base catalyst or an aluminum-containing zeolite as a solid acid catalyst for isomerization reactions, followed by temperature-controlled crystallization and filtration to separate unreacted reactants and products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If enzymes are used for isomerization reaction, then production yield is high, but production cost increases and process conditions become restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive enzymes with inexpensive solid base or solid acid catalysts that can be used in heterogeneous catalytic processes. These catalysts are much cheaper than enzymes and do not require strict control of process conditions, thereby reducing production cost while maintaining practical productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the catalyst type from biological enzymes to solid base/acid catalysts, which fundamentally alters the reaction conditions. The solid catalysts operate under less restrictive pH and temperature conditions compared to enzymes, allowing broader process parameters and reducing production restrictions.
2Productivity
If enzymes are used for isomerization reaction, then production yield is high, but process condition sensitivity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sensitive enzymes with robust solid base or solid acid catalysts that are insensitive to pH and temperature variations. This substitution maintains high production yield while significantly improving reliability by eliminating the strict process condition requirements that characterize enzyme-based systems.
3Measurement precision
If chromatography method is used to separate products, then separation precision is high, but equipment cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the separation function from complex chromatography equipment to a simple filtration process. By using heterogeneous catalysis, the solid catalyst and reaction products form distinct phases that can be separated by simple filtration, achieving the necessary separation precision without requiring expensive and complex chromatography equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical and chemical system of chromatography with a simple physical filtration process. The heterogeneous nature of the catalysis allows direct filtration of solid catalyst particles from the liquid reaction mixture, substituting complex separation equipment with simple mechanical filtration.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional heterogeneous catalytic process is used, then production cost decreases, but production yield is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces butanol as an intermediary solvent that enhances the heterogeneous catalytic process. Butanol improves the interaction between the solid catalyst and reactants, increasing reaction efficiency and production yield while maintaining the cost advantages of heterogeneous catalysis over enzyme-based methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite catalytic systems using solid base or solid acid catalysts in combination with butanol solvent. This composite approach combines the cost benefits of solid catalysts with the yield-enhancing properties of the butanol medium, achieving both low production cost and high production yield simultaneously.
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 yields of fructose and xylulose while allowing for easy separation of reactants and products through solubility differences, improving reaction efficiency and reducing the need for expensive equipment.
Implementation Method 1
reacting the biomass containing xylose in the presence of a solid base or solid acid catalyst at 80°C to 150°C using butanol as a solvent
Implementation Method 2
reacting the biomass containing xylose in the presence of a solid base or solid acid catalyst at 80°C to 150°C using butanol as a solvent, to isomerize xylose
Implementation Method 3
cooling the reaction solution obtained from the first step to 40°C to 60°C to crystallize unreacted xylose
Implementation Method 4
filtering the resultant to remove the unreacted xylose
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for preparing fructose or xylulose from biomass comprising glucose or xylose, and a method for separating a mixture of glucose and fructose and a mixture of xylose and xylulose.