Patent NZ-742702-A (NZ)
Title: Conversion of biomass to methyltetrahydrofuran
Inventor: MEDOFF MARSHALL
IPC: C13K1/02
Filed: 2013-07-03
Abstract: This invention relates to processes for converting a cellulosic, starchy or lignocellulosic feedstock to useful products, organic sugar derived products for example, furfural and furfural-derived products. Xylose can be chemically converted into many useful intermediates and products. The intermediates and products include but are not limited to furfural, furfuryl alcohol, methyl furan, methyl tetrahydrofuran, furan, tetrahydrofuran and similar structures. Xylose can exist in various different chemical forms. Many of the methods described by the present invention can provide cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials that have, for example, a lower recalcitrance level, a lower molecular weight, a different level of functionalization and/or crystallinity relative to a native material. Many of the methods provide materials that can be more readily utilized by a variety of microorganisms, such as one or more homoacetogens or heteroacetogens (with or without enzymatic hydrolysis assistance) to produce useful products, such as energy, fuels, foods, sugars (e.g., xylose and glucose), organic products (e.g., derived from sugars), and materials. In addition, to the furfural product describe above examples of products that can be derived from sugars include, but are not limited to, polyethers, hydrogen, alcohols (e.g., monohydric alcohols or dihydric alcohols, such as ethanol, n-propanol, iso- propanol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,3-propanediol, methyl or ethyl esters of any of these alcohols), biodiesel, organic acids (e.g., acetic acid and/or lactic acid), hydrocarbons, co-products (e.g., proteins, such as cellulolytic proteins (enzymes) or single cell proteins), and mixtures of any of these. Other examples include carboxylic acids, such as acetic acid or butyric acid, salts of a carboxylic acid, a mixture of carboxylic acids and salts of carboxylic acids and esters of carboxylic acids (e.g., methyl, ethyl and n-propyl esters), ketones, aldehydes, alpha, beta unsaturated acids, such as acrylic acid and olefins, such as ethylene. . Other products include methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, lactic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, succinic acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, a salt of any of the acids and a mixture of any of the acids and respective salts. Some of the products obtained by the methods disclosed herein, can be used directly or as a chemical intermediate to a solvent (e.g., for refining lubricating oils), as a fungicide, as a weed killer, as transportation fuels, nylon, lubricants, solvents, adhesives, medicines, resin and plastics. Many of the products obtained by the methods disclosed herein, such as ethanol or n-butanol, can be utilized directly as a fuel or as a blend with other components, such as gasoline, for powering cars, trucks, tractors, ships or trains, e.g., as an internal combustion fuel or as a fuel cell feedstock. Other products (e.g., organic acids, such as acetic acid and/or lactic acid) can be converted to other moieties (e.g., esters or anhydrides) that can be converted and utilized as a fuel. Many of the products obtained can also be utilized to power watercraft and aircraft, such as planes, e.g., having jet engines, or helicopters. In addition, the products described herein can be utilized for electrical power generation, e.g., in a conventional steam generating plant or in a fuel cell plant. In one aspect the present invention provides a method for processing biomass, the method comprising: irradiating biomass to reduce the recalcitrance of the biomass; saccharifying the irradiated biomass with one or more enzymes to produce a first sugar composition comprising xylose and glucose; fermenting the first sugar composition to produce a second sugar composition comprising xylose and glucose, wherein the concentration of xylose in the second sugar composition is increased relative to the first sugar composition; isolating the xylose from the second sugar composition; converting the isolated xylose to furfural; and converting the furfural to methyltetrahydrofuran.