PRODUCTION OF FORMIC ACID
First Claim
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1. A process for producing formic acid from a carbohydrate-containing material, the process comprising:
- introducing a carbohydrate-containing material to a first reactor;
hydrolyzing the carbohydrate-containing material in the first reactor in the presence of a mineral acid for a first time period at a first temperature and a first pressure effective to form an intermediate hydrolysate comprising one or more sugars;
transferring the intermediate hydrolysate from the first reactor to a second reactor;
hydrolyzing the intermediate hydrolysate in the second reactor for a second time period at a second temperature less than 195 degrees C. and a second pressure effective to form a hydrolysate product comprising formic acid; and
isolating the formic acid in a vapor from the hydrolysate product.
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Abstract
Processes for producing formic acid from a carbohydrate-containing material include hydrolyzing a carbohydrate-containing material (e.g., cellulose) in the presence of a mineral acid to form an intermediate hydrolysate comprising one or more sugars, and hydrolyzing the intermediate hydrolysate to form a hydrolysate product including formic acid.
55 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A process for producing formic acid from a carbohydrate-containing material, the process comprising:
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introducing a carbohydrate-containing material to a first reactor; hydrolyzing the carbohydrate-containing material in the first reactor in the presence of a mineral acid for a first time period at a first temperature and a first pressure effective to form an intermediate hydrolysate comprising one or more sugars; transferring the intermediate hydrolysate from the first reactor to a second reactor; hydrolyzing the intermediate hydrolysate in the second reactor for a second time period at a second temperature less than 195 degrees C. and a second pressure effective to form a hydrolysate product comprising formic acid; and isolating the formic acid in a vapor from the hydrolysate product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A continuous process for producing formic acid from a carbohydrate- containing material using a first reactor and a second reactor, the process comprising
continuously supplying the carbohydrate-containing material into the first reactor; -
hydrolyzing the carbohydrate-containing material in the first reactor in the presence of a mineral acid in an amount of 1 to 10% wt of the carbohydrate-containing material in the first reactor for a first time period, at a first temperature of 195 to 235 degrees C. and a first pressure effective to hydrolyze at least a portion of the carbohydrate-containing material to form an intermediate hydrolysate comprising one or more sugars; continuously transferring the intermediate hydrolysate from the first reactor to a second reactor; hydrolyzing the intermediate hydrolysate in the second reactor for a second time period that is greater than the first time period, at a second temperature of 150 to 210 degrees C. and a second pressure to form a hydrolysate product comprising formic acid and levulinic acid in the second reactor, wherein the second temperature and the second pressure are selected to maintain the intermediate hydrolysate as a fluid in the second reactor; and continuously removing the formic acid in a vapor from the second reactor in an amount that provides a molar ratio of the levulinic acid to the formic acid of at least 0.8. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A process for producing formic acid from a carbohydrate-containing material, the process comprising:
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introducing a carbohydrate-containing material to a first reactor; hydrolyzing the carbohydrate-containing material in the first reactor in the presence of a mineral acid in an amount of 3.0 to 4.5% wt of the carbohydrate-containing material in the first reactor for a first time period at a first temperature and a first pressure effective to form an intermediate hydrolysate comprising one or more sugars; transferring the intermediate hydrolysate from the first reactor to a second reactor; hydrolyzing the intermediate hydrolysate in the second reactor for a second time period at a second temperature and a second pressure effective to form a hydrolysate product comprising formic acid; and isolating the formic acid in a vapor from the hydrolysate product. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. (canceled)
Specification