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COntinuous Isosorbide Production


EMSL Project ID
3587

Abstract

This project focuses on developing new catalytic materials and novel processes for the conversion of sorbitol to isosorbide (1,4-3,6-dianhydrosorbitol). The purpose of the work is two fold: (1) improve the isosorbide yield and (2) create a more environmentally benign process. Sorbitol dehydration is an acid catalyzed process that is done commercially on a relatively small scale with mineral acid catalysis. Such catalysts create separation and waste disposal issues. Recent patents have shown that isosorbide drastically improves properties of materials like polyethyleneteraphthalate (PET) when used as a copolymer. This new potential market for isosorbide affords a substantial opportunity to develop a cost-competitive process that utilizes renewable feedstocks. Introduction of such a process would avoid the use of additional petroleum, provide substantial energy savings (35 trillion Btu), and afford significant market penetration for the burgeoning bio-products industry, as envisioned in the ?Plant/Crop-Based Renewable Resources Vision 2020.?

The specific work that we will do at EMSL includes: (1) final batch process development, (2) continuous process development and (3) analysis which will include use of HPLC, TGA/DSC (subject of a separate proposal) and NMR (subject of a separate proposal).

Project Details

Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2003-06-02
End Date
2006-06-04
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Johnathan Holladay
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory