Sugar and Cellulose

Using sugar and cellulose, many renewable chemicals and fuels can be produced. Our system converts hexose (C6H12Ox) compounds from sugar beets into renewable formic acid (HCOOH), other formates (Alkali-COOH), polyols and ethers (OME -1, DME), which can replace existing compounds derived from natural gas, coal or petroleum sources.

ChemBioPower will produce these valuable compounds using a proprietary two-stage, oxidation-acid catalyst and membrane electrolyzing system. Within the first stage, the heteropoly catalytic system produces formic acid (FA) via the degradation of sugar using oxygen from a pressure swing separation unit. The second system utilizes electrolysis to convert Stage 1 carbon dioxide from a pressure swing device into formate via a Nickel Phosphate (Ni[x]P[y]) catalyst.

Formic Acid

Formic acid compounds can be used directly in Alberta and marketed globally for drilling fluid, ice removal, water purity, plastics and—most importantly—heat transfer (coolant). Formic acid is non-toxic, flame proof, cannot explode, and has minimal transportation risk.

Presently, formic acid is produced via the carboxylation of methanol yielding methyl formate. Methanol is produced via steam reforming of natural gas. Steam reforming of natural gas produces large amounts of CO2. Our company is developing the equipment and the process that converts sucrose, obtained from beets grown in Alberta, into formic acid and related chemicals. Our two-stage process is unique, combining oxidative conversion with electrolytic after-treatment.

Well Known Chemical Pathways

Early efforts experienced low FA yields combined with low conversion rates, especially for highly recalcitrant substrates such as cellulose. The addition of strong mineral acids (hydrochloric [HCl] or sulfuric [H2SO4]) improved the efficiency of the transformations. Unfortunately, using these toxic and corrosive compounds negatively impacted sustainability and investment costs. Alternatively, replacing the mineral acids with a strong acid catalyst can create a low-energy, low carbon, process that is both efficient and sustainable. Using catalysts with both Lewis and Bronstead acid sites breaks down carbohydrates into smaller components.