One-pot acid-catalyzed levulinic acid production from lignocellulosic biomass
Inventors
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Assignees
University of Louisville Research Foundation ULRF
Member
Glycos Biomedical LtdWe are UK/US entity with a team based in Maryland and North Carolina comprising an expert team that has linked triggers to disease states including TBI and acute injuries associated with radiation, acute lung injury and infection.
We are UK/US entity with a team based in Maryland and North Carolina comprising an expert team that has linked triggers to disease states including TBI and acute injuries associated with radiation, acute lung injury and infection.
Publication Number
US-12623989-B2
Publication Date
2026-05-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided are methods for producing levulinic acid from hemp hurds. In some embodiments, the methods include dissolving hemp hurds in an ionic liquid medium to produce a cellulose-rich product; hydrolyzing cellulose present in the cellulose-rich product to produce a glucose-rich product; dehydrating glucose present in the glucose-rich product, and/or fructose resulting from isomerization of the glucose, to produce 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF); and hydrolyzing the HMF to levulinic acid. Also provided are methods for producing levulinic acid from sugar sources generally, which can include providing a sugar source, wherein the sugar source is a hydrolysis product produced by hydrolyzing a cellulose-rich product generated from hemp hurds and/or a cellulase digestion product of softwood pre-treated with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) or another acid; dehydrating the glucose present in the sugar source, and/or fructose resulting from isomerization of glucose present in the sugar source, to produce 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF); and hydrolyzing the HMF to produce levulinic acid.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method for producing levulinic acid from lignocellulosic biomass of hemp hurds in a singular reaction vessel. Lignocellulosic biomass of hemp hurds is dissolved in an ionic liquid medium to produce a cellulose-rich product, using a dissolution amount greater than 15 wt %. Cellulose present in the cellulose-rich product is hydrolyzed to produce a glucose-rich product within the same reaction vessel.
The method further adds phosphoric acid pretreated softwood into the vessel comprising the hydrolyzed glucose-rich product. Glucose from the glucose-rich product is dehydrated to produce 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) in the reaction vessel, and/or fructose is dehydrated from isomerization of glucose from the glucose-rich product. The process forms HMF in the reaction vessel of the singular reaction vessel concept.
Finally, the method hydrolyzes the HMF to levulinic acid in the reaction vessel. The described approach combines the steps of dissolving biomass, hydrolyzing cellulose, dehydration, and HMF hydrolysis without using separate vessels for these transformations in the method of producing levulinic acid from hemp hurds lignocellulosic biomass.
Claims Coverage
The claims include one independent method claim, with dependent claims refining the independent claim by adding quantitative constraints and specifying feed/component selections and optional catalyst and enzyme options. The inventive features are anchored by performing the sequence in a singular reaction vessel and using an ionic liquid medium dissolution of hemp hurds biomass followed by cellulose hydrolysis, dehydration to HMF, and HMF hydrolysis to levulinic acid.
Singular reaction vessel levulinic acid method from hemp hurds
A method for producing levulinic acid from lignocellulosic biomass of hemp hurds in a singular reaction vessel comprising dissolving lignocellulosic biomass of hemp hurds in an amount greater than 15 wt % in an ionic liquid medium to produce a cellulose-rich product; hydrolyzing cellulose to produce a glucose-rich product; adding a phosphoric acid pretreated softwood into the vessel; dehydrating glucose from the glucose-rich product and/or dehydrating fructose from isomerization of the glucose to produce 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) in the reaction vessel; and hydrolyzing the HMF to levulinic acid in the reaction vessel.
Ionic liquid medium biomass dissolution at greater than 15 wt%
Dissolving lignocellulosic biomass of hemp hurds in an amount greater than 15 wt % in an ionic liquid medium to produce a cellulose-rich product in a reaction vessel.
Cellulose hydrolysis to glucose-rich product in the vessel
Hydrolyzing cellulose present in the cellulose-rich product to produce a glucose-rich product in the reaction vessel.
Use of phosphoric acid pretreated softwood with the hydrolyzed glucose product
Adding a phosphoric acid pretreated softwood into the vessel comprising the hydrolyzed product of (b).
Dehydration to HMF via glucose dehydration and/or fructose dehydration after isomerization
Dehydrating glucose from the glucose-rich product and/or dehydrating fructose from isomerization of the glucose to produce 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) in the reaction vessel.
HMF hydrolysis to levulinic acid in the reaction vessel
Hydrolyzing the HMF to levulinic acid in the reaction vessel.
Cellulose-rich product hydrolysis conditions defined by glucose yield thresholds
Hydrolyzing a cellulose-rich product at specified temperatures and durations to produce glucose yields meeting at least 25% or at least 40% under different time-temperature conditions.
Specified ionic liquid medium components for the ionic-liquid dissolution step
Using an ionic-liquid medium that includes a first specified ionic-liquid component selected from the listed imidazolium/pyrrolidinium/cholinium salts, and optionally a second acid component selected from the listed acids.
Enumerated Lewis acid catalysts for acid-catalyzed cellulose hydrolysis
Selecting the Lewis acid from the group consisting of CrCl3·6H2O, AlCl3·6H2O, ZrCl4, SnCl2, HfCl4, or SnCl4·6H2O.
Enzyme combination for enzymatic hydrolysis of glucan after pretreatment
An enzyme combination where cellulase and β-glucosidase are present at specified amounts per gram of glucan.
Across the independent claim and refinements, the core inventive theme is producing levulinic acid from hemp hurds in a singular reaction vessel by dissolving the biomass in an ionic liquid medium, hydrolyzing cellulose to a glucose-rich product, adding phosphoric acid pretreated softwood, forming HMF by dehydration, and hydrolyzing HMF to levulinic acid, with dependent claims further specifying ionic liquid composition, hydrolysis conditions tied to glucose yields, optional Lewis acid catalysts, and optional enzyme combinations.
Stated Advantages
Elimination of intermediate separation (glucose/HMF).
High solid loading.
Mild reaction conditions.
Potential economic/sustainability impacts discussed via titer, comparison to Biofine, and E-factor/severity considerations.
Documented Applications
Production of levulinic acid from lignocellulosic biomass of hemp hurds in a singular reaction vessel.
Conversion of glucose (and/or fructose via isomerization) to HMF, followed by conversion of HMF to levulinic acid within the reaction vessel.
Use of phosphoric acid pretreatment for softwood to support the overall one-pot levulinic acid production route.
Interested in licensing this patent?