IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,227,473
Granted Patent B2
US 12,227,473 · App. 17/821,967 · Granted Feb 18, 2025

Production of glycolaldehyde by thermolytic fragmentation

Inventors: Christian Mårup Osmundsen (Gentofte, DK); Morten Boberg Larsen (Smørum, DK)
Assignee: HALDOR TOPSØE A/S
C07C45/60C07C45/81B01J47/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,227,473
App. No.
17/821,967
Granted
Feb 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A process for the production of glycolaldehyde by thermolytic fragmentation of a carbohydrate feedstock including mono- and/or di-saccharide(s) and a system suitable for performing the process. The process and the system are suitable for industrial application, and the process may be performed in a continuous process. The salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock may include one or more impurities selected from the group of arsenic, lead, sulfate, sulfur dioxide, and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural.

Claims (21)

1. A process for the production of glycolaldehyde comprising the step of thermolytic fragmentation of a salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock comprising at least 20 wt/wt % mono- and/or di-saccharide(s) and less than 200 ppm salts to obtain the glycolaldehyde, wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock comprises one or more impurities selected from the group consisting of arsenic, lead, sulfate, sulfur dioxide, and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock comprises 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock has a color above 75 ICUMSA units (IU).

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock comprises more than 30 wt/wt % mono-saccharide(s).

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock comprises a total amount of heavy metals of more than 5 mg/kg.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock has a residue on ignition above 0.5 wt/wt %.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the pH of the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock is below 6.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock is of non-food grade purity as defined by the Food Chemicals Codex.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the process comprises a prior step of salt-depleting a crude carbohydrate material to obtain a salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock comprising less than 200 ppm salts.

10. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the crude carbohydrate material is salt-depleted by means of ion-exchange.

11. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the crude carbohydrate material is selected from cane sugar, cane sugar syrup, cellulose hydrolysate, starch hydrolysate, hemi-cellulose hydrolysate, corn syrup, sugar beet syrup; or a mixture thereof.

12. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock comprises less than 180 ppm salts.

13. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock is injected into a thermolytic fragmentation unit in the form of an aqueous solution.

14. A process for the production of glycolaldehyde from a crude carbohydrate material comprising at least 20 wt/wt % mono- and/or di-saccharide(s), said process comprising the steps of:

a. removing salt from said crude carbohydrate material, to provide a salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock comprising less than 200 ppm salts;

b. performing thermolytic fragmentation on the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock so as to obtain glycolaldehyde, wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock comprises one or more impurities selected from the group consisting of arsenic, lead, sulfate, sulfur dioxide, and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural.

15. The process according to claim 14 , wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock comprises 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural.

16. The process according to claim 14 , wherein the salt-depleted carbohydrate feedstock is of non-food grade purity as defined by the Food Chemicals Codex.

17. The process according to claim 14 , wherein the crude carbohydrate material is selected from cane sugar, cane sugar syrup, cellulose hydrolysate, starch hydrolysate, hemi-cellulose hydrolysate, corn syrup, sugar beet syrup; or a mixture thereof.

18. The process according to claim 14 , wherein removing salt from said crude carbohydrate material is by means of ion-exchange.

19. A system for continuously performing the process according to claim 18 , said system comprising an ion-exchange unit having an inlet and an outlet, and a thermolytic fragmentation unit having inlet and outlet, wherein the outlet of said ion-exchange unit is fluidly connected to the inlet of said thermolytic fragmentation unit.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 13, 2025
From: HALDOR TOPSØE A/S
To: TOPSOE A/S
Reel/Frame 072435/0396 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2022
From: OSMUNDSEN, CHRISTIAN MÅRUP; LARSEN, MORTEN BOBERG
To: HALDOR TOPSØE A/S
Reel/Frame 060888/0413 →
Priority Claims (1)
DK 2016 00750 · Dec 8, 2016 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16332600
Related Publication 20220402848A1 · Dec 22, 2022
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