In Situ Extraction of Fermentation using Ionic Liquids

使用离子液体原位提取发酵液

• 批准号: 1034433
• 负责人: Aaron Scurto
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: University of Kansas Center for Research Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-01 至 2012-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1034433&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Situ; Extraction; Fermentation; using; Ionic

Principal Investigator: Aaron M ScurtoProposal No: 1034433Intellectual MeritThe production of alcohol-based biofuels from fermentation of renewable biomass feedstocks is one route for securing a sustainable source of transportation fuels. Most fermentations produce alcohols in relatively dilute aqueous solutions that are currently separated by energy-intensive downstream processes such as distillation. However, if the alcohols could be removed in situ from the fermentation broth by solvent extraction, then product inhibition of the microorganisms could be overcome, and downstream energy consumption could be reduced, leading to more efficient alcohol recovery. Optimal solvents must possess three main characteristics. First, the solvent must possess thermodynamic and mass transfer characteristics that facilitate alcohol separation and solvent recovery. For example, the solvent must be immiscible in water, have high solubility for the target biofuel, and possesses a large volatility difference with the biofuel. Second, the solvent must be biocompatible with the fermentation microorganisms. Finally, solvent should be environmentally benign with low impact on humans and the environment. Ionic liquids (ILs) have the potential meet all these requirements.The overall goal of this research is to provide fundamental understanding of the extraction of alcohol-based biofuels from fermentation broths using molecularly-adaptable ionic liquids. Ionic liquids are liquid organic salts with no volatility. The design of ionic liquids as materials for in situ product recovery of alcohols from fermentation broths will be realized by simultaneous optimization of phase equilibrium thermodynamics, mass transfer, and biocompatibility. Model systems of candidate nonvolatile ionic liquids and volatile alcohol biofuels will be investigated according to their partitioning and mass transfer in aqueous systems, aqueous systems with model fermentation compounds, and actual fermentation broths. S. cerevisiae will serve as the model organism for ethanol fermentation, and C. acetibutylicum will serve as the model organism for butanol fermentation. The molecular and phase toxicity of the ionic liquids to these fermentation microorganisms will be determined. Life-cycle analysis will be used to compare the long-term impact of conventional solvents vs. ionic liquids. Overall, this research plan is designed to elucidate the structure-property relationships that will assess the potential of ionic liquids to accomplish the low-energy separation of alcohol-based biofuels from fermentation broths.Broader ImpactsOverall, the proposed research seeks to assess alternatives to distillation to lower the energy consumption associated with biofuel production from renewable resources. Educational and outreach activities based on the research are also proposed. Specifically, case studies based on new processes which could result from the research will be developed and used in three current courses at the University of Kansas: Biocatalysis, Environmentally-Benign Reaction Engineering, and Environmental Assessment of Chemical Processing. In collaboration with a local high-school science teacher, incorporation of eco-toxicology experiments with solvents, including ionic liquids, will be incorporated into the science curriculum. These activities will be adapted for curriculum materials at Project Discovery, a summer camp for female high-school students interested in chemical engineering.

主要研究人员：Aaron M Scurto Proposal No：1034433智力价值从可再生生物质原料发酵生产基于酒精的生物燃料是确保运输燃料可持续来源的一条途径。大多数发酵在相对稀薄的水溶液中产生酒精，目前这些溶液通过蒸馏等能源密集型下游过程进行分离。然而，如果用溶剂萃取法从发酵液中就地去除酒精，就可以克服微生物对产物的抑制，降低下游的能耗，从而实现更高效的酒精回收。最佳溶剂必须具备三个主要特征。首先，溶剂必须具有有利于酒精分离和溶剂回收的热力学和传质特性。例如，溶剂必须不溶于水，对目标生物燃料具有很高的溶解度，并且与生物燃料具有较大的挥发性差异。第二，溶剂必须与发酵微生物生物相容。最后，溶剂应该对环境无害，对人类和环境的影响较小。离子液体(ILS)具有满足所有这些要求的潜力。本研究的总体目标是为利用分子适应性离子液体从发酵液中提取醇基生物燃料提供基础了解。离子液体是液体有机盐，不会挥发。通过对相平衡热力学、传质和生物相容性的同时优化，实现了离子液体作为发酵液中醇的原位回收材料的设计。根据非挥发性离子液体和挥发性酒精生物燃料在水体系、含有模型发酵化合物的水体系和实际发酵液中的分配和传质，将研究候选非挥发性离子液体和挥发性酒精生物燃料的模型体系。酿酒酵母将作为酒精发酵的模式生物，乙酸丁酯将作为丁醇发酵的模式生物。将测定离子液体对这些发酵微生物的分子毒性和相毒性。生命周期分析将用来比较传统溶剂和离子液体的长期影响。总而言之，这项研究计划旨在阐明将评估离子液体从发酵液中实现低能分离基于酒精的生物燃料的潜力的结构-性质关系。总体来说，拟议的研究试图评估蒸馏的替代方案，以降低与可再生资源生产生物燃料相关的能源消耗。还提出了以研究为基础的教育和外联活动。具体地说，基于这项研究可能产生的新工艺的案例研究将被开发并用于堪萨斯大学目前的三门课程：生物催化、环境友好反应工程和化学加工环境评估。在与当地一名高中科学教师的合作下，将把使用包括离子液体在内的溶剂的生态毒理学实验纳入科学课程。这些活动将被改编成Project Discovery的课程材料，这是一个为对化学工程感兴趣的高中生举办的夏令营。