SBIR Phase I: Novel Catalytic Membrane Reactor for the Production of Valuable Chemical Intermediates from Zero/Negative Value Feedstock and Waste

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是将非食品纤维素玉米纤维（玉米乙醇工厂的低价值副产品）转化为可发酵的糖，使用螺栓连接的催化膜反应器，而无需建造新的设施。该项目的成功完成将使玉米乙醇生产商能够实现收入来源多样化，最大限度地提高生产效率。所提出的技术比天然存在的系统具有更高的效率，并且可以在不到一天的时间内完成转化，比现有的酶技术少5-10倍。该催化剂可重复使用，对环境友好。拟议项目依赖于具有专利酶替代催化剂的催化膜反应器，同时将纤维素生物质转化为可发酵糖，并在一步中以高产率分离水解糖。该催化剂由两个相邻的聚合物纳米结构、聚苯乙烯磺酸和从膜支撑物接枝的聚（离子液体）链组成。两种类型的接枝聚合物链将协同作用以结合和水解生物质底物，在性质上类似于纤维素酶的功能。聚苯乙烯磺酸链催化多糖水解为可溶性糖，而聚（离子液体）链增强合成催化剂的催化活性和选择性。所设计的催化剂的催化活性和选择性可以通过环取代和通过独立地改变接枝纳米结构的性质来调节和优化。具有适当孔径的多孔膜将能够在单体糖释放后立即分离单体糖，从而驱动正向反应，最大限度地减少酸催化的糖降解，并提高糖产率。除了可发酵的糖之外，该催化剂还可用于将纤维素生物质或其他碳水化合物（如农业残渣或食物垃圾）转化为平台化学品，用于生产生物基产品。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to convert non-food cellulosic corn fiber, a low-value byproduct from corn ethanol plants, to fermentable sugars using a bolt-on catalytic membrane reactor without the need to construct new facilities. The successful completion of the project will enable corn ethanol producers to diversify revenue streams, maximize production efficiencies. The proposed technology operates with higher efficiency than naturally occurring systems and can complete the conversion in less than one day, 5-10 times less than the exiting enzyme technology. The catalyst can be used repeatedly and is environmentally friendly. The proposed project relies on a catalytic membrane reactor with a patented enzyme replacement catalyst to simultaneously convert cellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars and separate the hydrolyzed sugars with high yield in one step. This catalyst consists of two adjacent polymeric nanostructures, a polystyrene sulfonic acid and poly (ionic liquid) chains grafted from a membrane support. Two types of grafted polymer chains will act cooperatively to bind and hydrolyze the biomass substrate, similar in nature to the functions of cellulase enzymes. The polystyrene sulfonic acid chain catalyzes the hydrolysis of the polysaccharides to soluble sugars whereas the poly (ionic liquid) chain enhances the catalytic activity and selectivity of the synthesized catalyst. The catalytic activity and selectivity of the designed catalyst can be tuned and optimized by ring substitution and by varying independently the properties of the grafted nanostructures. A porous membrane with an appropriate pore size will enable the separation of monomer sugars immediately after they are released, thus driving the forward reaction, minimizing acid-catalyzed sugar degradation, and improving sugar yields. In addition to fermentable sugars, the catalyst can be tuned to convert cellulosic biomass or other carbohydrates such as agricultural residues or food waste into platform chemicals for the production of bio-based products.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.