One-step production of furfural from biomass
First Claim
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1. A process for converting biomass into furfural, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a pentosan-containing biomass material;
(b) subjecting the pentosan-containing biomass material to an acid catalyzed digestion process and a dehydration reaction in a digestion vessel at a temperature greater than about 100°
C. in the presence of an acid, water and a water-immiscible organic solvent to produce a digested product stream comprising water, organic solvent, furfural and solids;
(c) separating the digested product stream into a liquid product stream and a solids product stream, the liquid product stream comprising water, organic solvent and furfural;
(d) subjecting the liquid product stream to a liquid-liquid extraction for a period of time sufficient to separate the liquid product stream into an aqueous stream and an organic product stream, the organic product stream comprising furfural;
(e) separating furfural from the organic product stream to yield furfural and organic solvent; and
(f) treating the solids product stream to further remove organic solvent to yield an organic solvent depleted solids product stream and recovered water-immiscible organic solvent.
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Abstract
Methods and processes for the production of valuable organic products and alcohols from biomass using a single-step dehydration extraction process having numerous advantages over prior production methods are described.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A process for converting biomass into furfural, the process comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a pentosan-containing biomass material; (b) subjecting the pentosan-containing biomass material to an acid catalyzed digestion process and a dehydration reaction in a digestion vessel at a temperature greater than about 100°
C. in the presence of an acid, water and a water-immiscible organic solvent to produce a digested product stream comprising water, organic solvent, furfural and solids;(c) separating the digested product stream into a liquid product stream and a solids product stream, the liquid product stream comprising water, organic solvent and furfural; (d) subjecting the liquid product stream to a liquid-liquid extraction for a period of time sufficient to separate the liquid product stream into an aqueous stream and an organic product stream, the organic product stream comprising furfural; (e) separating furfural from the organic product stream to yield furfural and organic solvent; and (f) treating the solids product stream to further remove organic solvent to yield an organic solvent depleted solids product stream and recovered water-immiscible organic solvent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification