Solid Acid Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Cellulosic Materials

• US 20100113764A1
• Filed: 11/19/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• 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 8,871,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 536/123
• CPC Class Codes: C07H 3/02 Monosaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: C07H 3/04 Disaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/12 Disaccharides

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 composition comprised of a soluble fraction obtained from solid-acid hydrolysis of a cellulose containing material, said composition comprising a polysaccharide oligomer content that comprises polysaccharide oligomers having a general formula of (C6H10O5)_n where n is no greater than 2.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said polysaccharide oligomer content comprises at least 70 percent polysaccharide oligmers having a general formula of (C6H10O5)_n where n is no greater than 2.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said polysaccharide oligomer content comprises at least 80 percent polysaccharide oligmers having a general formula of (C6H10O5)_n where n is no greater than 2.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein said polysaccharide oligomer content comprises at least 90 percent polysaccharide oligmers having a general formula of (C6H10O5)_n where n is no greater than 2.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said polysaccharide oligomer content comprises at least 95 percent polysaccharide oligmers having a general formula of (C6H10O5)_n where n is no greater than 2.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition also comprises at least 3 of cellobiose, glucose, fructose, levoglucosan, levoglucosenone, furfural, and 5-hydroxymethylfurural.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises levoglucosenone and/or furfural.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises levoglucosenone.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises furfural.

10. A composition comprised of a soluble fraction obtained from agitating a cellulose containing material in the presence of a solid acid material, said composition comprising levoglucosenone and/or furfural.

11. The composition of claim 10 further comprising at least one of cellobiose, glucose, fructose levoglucosan or 5-hydroxymethylfurural.

12. The composition of claim 10, wherein said composition comprises polysaccharides having a general formula of (C6H10O5)n where n is no greater than 2.

13. The composition of claim 10 made by a process 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.