Solid Acid Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Cellulosic Materials

• US 20090118494A1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc. (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc. (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Hick, Sandra M., Truitt, Joshua H., Blair, Richard G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,062,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 536/127
• CPC Class Codes: C07H 1/06 Separation; Purification

Abstract

Provided are methods for the solubilization of cellulose into soluble sugars without the need for high temperatures, high pressures, strong acid solutions, and/or added water. The produced sugars can be fermented into ethanol. In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting a cellulose-containing material with a solid acid material and agitating the cellulose-containing material and the solid acid material for a time sufficient to produce an aqueous solution comprising a quantity of soluble sugars.

Claims

1. A method for the production of soluble sugars from a cellulose-containing material, comprising:

(a) contacting the cellulose-containing material with a solid acid material; and

(b) agitating the cellulose-containing material and the solid acid material for a time sufficient to form a product comprising soluble sugars.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(c) after step (b) of agitating, recovering a first aqueous solution comprising soluble sugars.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(c) after step (b) of agitating, recovering a second aqueous solution comprising soluble sugars by rinsing the solid acid-containing material and the cellulose-containing material with an aqueous solution.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

(d) after step (c) of recovering, reusing at least a portion of the solid acid material and repeating at least steps (a) and (b).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellulosic-containing material is a lignocellulosic material comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, and wherein the step (b) of agitating produces a second quantity of soluble sugars from the hemicellulose and a quantity of aromatic hydrocarbons from the lignin.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the aromatic hydrocarbons comprise vanillin.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid acid material comprises an aluminosilicate material.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the aluminosilicate compound is a clay material.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the clay material is kaolin.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the clay material is acid-treated bentonite.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid acid material is a solid superacid material.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid acid material is acid-treated alumina.

13. A method for the production of soluble sugars from a cellulose-containing material, comprising:

(a) contacting the cellulose-containing material with a solid acid material; and

(b) agitating the cellulose-containing material and the solid acid material for a time sufficient to produce a product comprising soluble sugars, wherein agitating occurs at a temperature of between about −

5 to about 105 degrees Celsius and wherein said cellulose-containing material and solid acid material have a combined free water content of 45% or less.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the solid acid material has a free water content of from about 4% to about 10% by weight of the solid acid material.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the cellulose-containing material has a free water content of from about 4% to about 10% by weight of the cellulose-containing material.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein during the step (b) of agitating, the cellulosic material and solid acid material have a combined free water content of from about 8% to about 40% by weight.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the solid acid material is one of kaolin and acidified bentonite, and combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the solid acid material is kaolin, and a ratio of the cellulose-containing material to the solid acid material is about 1:

1.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the solid acid material is acid-treated bentonite, and wherein a ratio of the cellulose-containing material to the solid acid material is about 3:

1.

21. A method for the production of soluble sugars from a cellulose-containing material, comprising:

(a) contacting the cellulose-containing material with a solid acid material; and

(b) at ambient temperature and in the substantial absence of added water, agitating the cellulose-containing material and the solid acid material for a time sufficient to produce a product comprising soluble sugars.