Methods for preparing and collecting polyaromatic compounds, and products comprising polyaromatic compounds
Inventors
Capanema, Ewellyn A. • BALAKSHIN, Mikhail Y. • KOSA, Matyas • HARRIS, Stephen Herbert
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10233281-B2
Publication Date
2019-03-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed are methods for preparing and collecting a polyaromatic compound. Also disclosed are products comprising a polyaromatic compound.
Core Innovation
A method prepares a first mixture by subjecting a first biomass to a first fluid comprising hot compressed water, thereby forming a first liquid fraction comprising a first solubilized polyaromatic compound and a first solid fraction. The process optionally separates at least a portion of the first solid fraction from the first liquid fraction. The polyaromatic compound is generated via hot compressed water solubilization associated with subcritical, near-critical, or supercritical hot compressed water concepts.
The method acidifies the first liquid comprising the first solubilized polyaromatic compound at a temperature of at least about 90° C., thereby forming a second mixture comprising a first precipitated polyaromatic compound. The method then collects at least a portion of the first precipitated polyaromatic compound, thereby obtaining a first collected precipitated polyaromatic compound. A substantial portion of the first collected precipitated polyaromatic compound is not discarded and is not combusted.
The disclosed approach further supports repeated processing sequences by enabling a second subjecting step and corresponding second acidifying and second collecting steps, again with a substantial portion of the collected precipitated polyaromatic compound not discarded and not combusted. Representative precipitated polyaromatic compounds include lignin, pseudolignin, and polyfuranic compounds. At least part of a collected precipitated polyaromatic compound can be incorporated into a commercially available adhesive product for sale or trade.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims identify one core method with 8 inventive features: producing a solubilized polyaromatic compound from biomass using hot compressed water to form liquid and solid fractions, acidifying at at least about 90° C. to precipitate polyaromatics, collecting the precipitate, and requiring that a substantial portion is not discarded and not combusted. Dependent claims refine the method with a hot compressed water temperature range, selected pretreatments for solids before repeating the sequence, repeated solubilization/precipitation/collection steps, specified precipitated polyaromatic compound types, and adhesive product use.
Hot compressed water solubilization of biomass into liquid and solid fractions
A method including a first subjecting step wherein a first biomass is subjected to a first fluid comprising hot compressed water to form a first mixture, the first mixture comprising a first liquid fraction with a first solubilized polyaromatic compound and a first solid fraction.
Acidification at at least about 90° C. to precipitate polyaromatics
A first acidifying step wherein the first liquid comprising the first solubilized polyaromatic compound is acidified at a temperature of at least about 90° C., thereby forming a second mixture comprising a first precipitated polyaromatic compound.
Collecting precipitated polyaromatics with substantial non-discard/non-combustion requirement
A first collecting step wherein at least a portion of the first precipitated polyaromatic compound is collected to obtain a first collected precipitated polyaromatic compound, wherein a substantial portion of the first collected precipitated polyaromatic compound is not discarded and is not combusted.
Defined hot compressed water temperature range
The method characterized such that the first fluid has a temperature in the range of about 130° C. to about 374° C.
Solid derivation by selected pretreatment processes prior to repeating solubilization/precipitation
The method where a second subjecting step uses a first solid derived from a first solid fraction, where the derived solid is obtained by exposing the first solid fraction to one or more selected processes consisting of acid hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, sulfur dioxide treatment, hot compressed water treatment, or combinations thereof.
Repeated acidification/precipitation/collection with substantial non-discard/non-combustion requirement
Separating some of a second solid/liquid fraction, acidifying a second liquid containing a solubilized polyaromatic compound at at least about 90° C. to precipitate a second polyaromatic compound, collecting at least a portion of the precipitate to obtain a second collected precipitated polyaromatic compound, wherein a substantial portion of the collected precipitate is not discarded and is not combusted.
Limiting precipitated polyaromatic compound types
Selecting the second precipitated polyaromatic compound from lignin, pseudolignin, a polyfuranic compound, or any combination thereof.
Incorporation into a commercially available adhesive product
A method incorporating at least part of a collected precipitated polyaromatic compound into a commercially available adhesive product, for sale or barter/trade.
Across the independent claim and its refinements, the coverage centers on hot compressed water processing of biomass to form a liquid fraction with a solubilized polyaromatic compound, acidification at at least about 90° C. to precipitate polyaromatics, collection of the precipitate, and a non-discard/non-combustion requirement for a substantial portion. Dependent embodiments further define a temperature range for the hot compressed water, allow derivation of solids by selected pretreatments before repeating the sequence, repeat the solubilization/precipitation/collection while maintaining the non-discard/non-combustion requirement, limit polyaromatic identity to lignin/pseudolignin/polyfuranic compounds, and specify incorporation into commercially available adhesive products.
Stated Advantages
A substantial portion of the collected precipitated polyaromatic compound is not discarded and is not combusted.
Documented Applications
Incorporating at least part of a collected precipitated polyaromatic compound into a commercially available adhesive product for sale or trade.
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