Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Uchicago Argonne, LLC

Virent, Inc.

Exxon Research and Engineering Company

Virent Energy Systems, Inc.

Glucan Biorenewables LLC

James Anthony Dumesic

Randy Douglas Cortright

David Martin Alonso

George W Huber

Ryan Michael West

Jeremy Scott Luterbacher

Ali Hussain Motagamwala

Stephanie G Wettstein

Juan Carlos Serrano Ruiz

Mei Chia

Jesse Quentin Bond

Jeffrey W Elam

Juben Nemchand Chheda

Joseph A Libera

Christopher L Marshall

Thatcher W Root

Elif Ispir Gurbuz

Dong Wang

Dante A Simonetti

Kevin J Barnett

Edward L Kunkes

Yomaira J Pagan-Torres

James Joseph Chludzinski

Rees T Baker

Brent Shanks

Thomas J Schwartz

Christopher J Barrett

Yuriy Romαn-Leshkov

Yuriy Roman-Leshkov

Hochan Chang

Fei Cao

Philip J Kersten

Sikander Hussain Hakim

Ronen Weingarten

Zach J Brentzel

Jean Marcel Ribeiro Gallo

Brandon J O'Neill

Yomaira J Pagán-Torres

Siddarth H Krishna

Tianfu Wang

Elif I Gürbüz

George Willis Huber

Jeremy S Luterbacher

A method of conducting oxidation in an inflatable bag bioreactor or a batch reactor is provided. The inflatable bag bioreactor or the batch reactor is used as an efficient, economical, and convenient reaction vessel. The inflatable bag bioreactor or batch reactor is rotated or rocked during the reaction to ensure continued exposure of the reaction mixture to the headspace gas in the vessel. The ability of the inflatable bag to expand or contract as the volume of the contents changes helps maintain consistent pressure and avoids the need to replenish the headspace gas.

Repurposing inflatable packaging pillows as bioreactors: convenient synthesis of glucosone by whole-cell catalysis under oxygen

A method of making polyesters and polyurethanes from biomass-derived polyols. The polyol is biomass-derived and has the structure: wherein dashed bonds are single or double bonds and R is selected from the group consisting of &#x2014;OH and &#x2550;O. Polyurethanes are made by reacting the polyol with a diisocyanate. Polyesters are made by reacting the polyol with a dicarboxylic acid.

Synthesis of functional polyurethanes and polyesters from biomass-derived monomers

A method of making of 1,2,5,6-hexanetetrol ('tetrol'). The method includes the steps of contacting a reaction solution containing water as well as levoglucosenone, dihydrolevoglucosenone, and/or levoglucosanol, with a catalyst containing metal and acid functionalities, at temperature of from about 100&#xb0; C. to about 175&#xb0; C., and a hydrogen partial pressure of from about 1 bar to about 50 bar (about 0.1 MPa to about 5 MPa), and for a time wherein at least a portion of the reactant is converted into 1,2,5,6-hexanetetrol.

Catalytic production of 1,2,5,6-hexanetetrol from levoglucosenone

A method to produce 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from C6 carbohydrates. The method includes the steps of reacting a reactant comprising at least one C6 carbohydrate, in a reaction mixture comprising at least about 5% (v/v) water, a polar, aprotic solvent, and an acid, for a time, at a temperature, and at a hydrogen ion concentration wherein at least a portion of the C6 carbohydrate present in the reactant is converted to 5-hydroxymethyl furfural ('HMF').

Process to produce 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from carbohydrates using a solvent system containing water and a polar aprotic solvent

A process to produce an aqueous solution of carbohydrates that contains C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6 sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5 sugar monomers, or any combination thereof is presented. The process includes the steps of reacting biomass or a biomass-derived reactant with a solvent system including a lactone and water, and an acid catalyst. The reaction yields a product mixture containing water-soluble C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6-sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5-sugar monomers, or any combination thereof.

Method to produce water-soluble sugars from biomass using solvents containing lactones

Described is a method to make linear alpha olefins. The method includes the steps of contacting a feedstock having a lactone and/or an unsaturated carboxylic acid with a solid acid catalyst having acidic catalytic sites including Lewis acid catalytic sites, for a time and a temperature wherein at least a fraction of the lactone and/or unsaturated carboxylic acid present in the feedstock is converted into a linear alpha olefin. The method may optionally take place in the presence of water. The solid acid catalyst should preferably have at least 50% Lewis acid catalytic sites.

Selective catalytic production of linear alpha olefins from lactones and unsaturated carboxylic acids

A method of making 1,5-pentanediol from tetrahydrofurfural alcohol. The method includes the steps of dehydrating tetrahydrofurfural alcohol (THFA) to dihydropyran (DHP); hydrating at least a portion of the DHP to 2-hydroxy-tetrahydropyran (2-HY-THP) in the absence of homogeneous acid; and hydrogenating at least a portion of the 2-HY-THP to 1,5-pentanediol. The method can be conducted entirely in the absence of noble metal catalysts.

Production of 1,5-pentanediol via upgrading of tetrahydrofufuryl alcohol

A method for stabilizing a metal or metal-containing particle supported on a surface is described, along with the resulting composition of matter. The method includes the steps of depositing upon the surface a protective thin film of a material of sufficient thickness to overcoat the metal or metal-containing particle and the surface, thereby yielding an armored surface; and then calcining the armored surface for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form channels in the protective thin film, wherein the channels so formed expose a portion of the metal- or metal-containing particle to the surrounding environment. Also described is a method of performing a heterogeneous catalytic reaction using the stabilized, supported catalyst.

Method to stabilize base metal catalysts by overcoating via atomic layer deposition and resulting product

A method of making 1,5-pentanediol from tetrahydrofurfural alcohol. The method includes the steps of dehydrating tetrahydrofurfural alcohol (THFA) to dihydropyran (DHP); hydrating at least a portion of the DHP to 2-hydroxy-tetrahydropyran (2-HY-THP) in the presence of a solid acid catalyst; and hydrogenating at least a portion of the 2-HY-THP to 1,5-pentanediol. The method can be conducted entirely in the absence of noble metal catalysts.

Production of 1,5-pentanediol via upgrading of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol

A high surface area catalyst with a mesoporous support structure and a thin conformal coating over the surface of the support structure. The high surface area catalyst support is adapted for carrying out a reaction in a reaction environment where the thin conformal coating protects the support structure within the reaction environment. In various embodiments, the support structure is a mesoporous silica catalytic support and the thin conformal coating comprises a layer of metal oxide resistant to the reaction environment which may be a hydrothermal environment.

Hydrothermal performance of catalyst supports

A process to produce an aqueous solution of carbohydrates that contains C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6 sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5 sugar monomers, or any combination thereof is presented. The process includes the steps of reacting biomass or a biomass-derived reactant with a solvent system including a lactone and water, and an acid catalyst. The reaction yields a product mixture containing water-soluble C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6-sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5-sugar monomers, or any combination thereof. A solute is added to the product mixture to cause partitioning of the product mixture into an aqueous layer containing the carbohydrates and a substantially immiscible organic layer containing the lactone.

A method to produce an aqueous solution of carbohydrates containing C5- and/or C6-sugar-containing oligomers and/or C5- and/or C6-sugar monomers in which biomass or a biomass-derived reactant is reacted with a solvent system having an organic solvent, and organic co-solvent, and water, in the presence of an acid. The method produces the desired product, while a substantial portion of any lignin present in the reactant appears as a precipitate in the product mixture.

Method to produce biomass-derived compounds using a co-solvent system containing gamma-valerolactone

A process to produce furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The process includes the steps of reacting a C6 sugar-containing reactant in a reaction solution comprising a first organic solvent selected from the group consisting of beta-, gamma-, and delta-lactones, hydrofurans, hydropyrans, and combinations thereof, in the presence of an acid catalyst for a time and under conditions wherein at least a portion of the C6 sugar present in the reactant is converted to 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF); oxidizing the HMF into FDCA with or without separating the HMF from the reaction solution; and extracting the FDCA by adding an aprotic organic solvent having a dipole moment of about 1.0 D or less to the reaction solution.

Method to produce furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)

A method to produce 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is described in which a reactant including cellulose, lignocellulose, or a combination thereof, in a reaction mixture of a polar, aprotic solvent and an acid is reacted for a time, at a temperature, and at a hydrogen ion concentration wherein at least a portion of the cellulose or lignocellulose present in the reactant is converted to HMF. The reaction mixture is initially substantially devoid of water. As the reaction proceeds, dehydration of intermediates causes the water concentration in the reaction mixture to rise to no more than about 2.0 wt % water.

Method for selectively preparing evoglucosenone (LGO) and other anhydrosugars from biomass in polar aprotic solvents

A method to produce levulinic acid (LA) and gamma-valerolactone (GVL) from biomass-derived cellulose or lignocellulose by selective extraction of LA using GVL and optionally converting the LA so isolated into GVL, with no purifications steps required to yield the GVL.

Solute-enhanced production of gamma-valerolactone (GVL) from aqueous solutions of levulinic acid

Growing community of inventors

Verona, WI, United States of America

James Anthony Dumesic