Recipient Organization
E3TECSERVICE, LLC
11865 TALL TIMBER DR
CLARKSVILLE,MD 21029
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The global market for bio-based chemicals is at a critical stage of development. With the focus shifting to development of new bio-based routes to chemicals, new synthesis processes with low capital costs (CAPEX) and high energy efficiency need to be developed that will truly compete with their petroleum derived counterparts. For the market to reach its full potential, techno-economic, health, and environmental challenges must be overcome. Organic acid esters, produced from bio-based organic acids and alcohols, are truly bio-renewable, "green" chemicals that are promising replacements for petroleum-based solvents, lubricants, and plasticizers. There is a window of opportunity currently available for the development of energy efficient and low CAPEX processes for synthesis of bio-based alternate plasticizers and coatings to replace petroleum-based phthalates. Phthalates, the current petroleum-based plasticizer, are increasingly being phased out because of their toxicological properties and environmental persistence. Succinic acid produced by non-food biomass, is an emerging platform for value-added specialty chemicals.The governing objective of this SBIR Phase I project is to develop Heat Integrated Reactive Distillation (HIRD) using side reactors for synthesis of succinic acid based alternate bio-based plasticizers, solvents and coatings and to quantify the techno-economic merits over the current commercial process in terms of CAPEX and energy consumption (C-Footprint).This Phase-I proposal focuses on USDA priorities for developing innovative technologies for bio-based chemical production. The project involves collaboration between E3Tec and Michigan State University (MSU), with support from the research institute MBI International, to develop high efficiency, integrated processes which overcome the complexities of chemical reactions and difficult separations encountered in synthesis of bio-based chemicals.The major benefits that will arise from this project are: a) enhanced U.S. competitiveness in manufacturing of bio-based chemicals; and b) process intensification and energy efficiency for manufacturing of bio-based chemicals.
Animal Health Component
33%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
33%
Developmental
67%
Goals / Objectives
The governing objective of this SBIR project is to 1) develop heat integrated reactive distillation (HIRD) process using side reactors for synthesis of succinic acid based alternate bio-based plasticizers, solvents and coatings, and 2) quantify the techno-economic merits over the current commercial process in terms of capital costs (CAPEX) and energy consumption (C-Footprint).The specific aims of Phase I for achieving the overall objective are: 1) development of an integrated process concept of distillation, side reactors, and heat transfer units for esterification of succinic acid with high molecular alcohols; 2) collection of experimental data using the test unit prototype having a commercial-scale process configuration; 3) validation of the ASPEN Plus™ design model developed for esterification of citric acid to tri-ethyl citrate (TEC) for esterification of succinic acid or a lower succinate ester to higher molecular weight succinate esters with 2-ethyl hexanol; 4) analysis of the C-Footprint on the basis of the validated ASPEN Plus™ process model; and 5) conducting a planning level, merit-based economic analysis.
Project Methods
The E3Tec team is a technology provider and will license the technology to one of the chemical companies pursuing bio-based chemicals, specifically plasticizers, or an engineering company. Therefore, the R&D approach of this SBIR project focuses on establishing techno-economic merits of the proposed process for synthesis of esters of succinic acid. E3Tec team will achieve this goal by adopting a 3-prong approach: 1) a validated design methodology; 2) pilot scale testing; and 3) a commercialization plan based on industry workshop and roadmap. The R&D approach consists of interlinked tasks for achieving the overall objective and specific aims described above and are assigned according to the capabilities at E3Tec and MSU.The SBIR consists of seven interlinked tasks with clearly defined purposes as follows:Task 1: Techno-Economic Merit Analysis of Succinic Acid based Plasticizers, Solvents and CoatingsPurpose: To establish techno-economic merits of manufacturing of esters of succinic acid using an integrated distillation and side reactors. Task 2: Experimental Determination of Kinetic ParametersPurpose: To determine kinetic parameters of esterification of succinic acid by addressing its limited solubility in alcohols. Task 3: Scale-up Design Methodology for Manufacturing of Bio-based ChemicalsPurpose: To develop design tools for rapidly scaling the lab-scale pilot-plant data to commercial unit without large-scale pilot plan.Task 4: C-Footprint AnalysisPurpose: To establish C-Footprint merits of thebio-based processascompared to petroleum-based processes.Task 5: Design of a Lab-Scale Fully Integrated Pilot Plant Purpose: To design fully integrated lab-scale pilot plant for validating the ASPEN Plus™ design model Task 6: Commercialization PlanPurpose: To actively pursue industry partner(s) for commercialization of the process.Task 7: Project Management and Reporting