Impact and Mitigation of Pyruvate Impurities in Corn-derived Feedstocks on Performance of Biobased Acrylic Process over FAU Zeolite-based Catalysts

Lakril Technologies responds to Topic Area 8.8, Biofuels and Biobased Products under the Research Priority for New Processes for Manufacture of Industrial Products, Chemicals, or Biofuels. Our lactic-to-acrylic technology helps by providing a drop-in bio-based acrylic acid and acrylates at cost parity to today's petrochemical acrylics while providing > 85% reduction in CO2 releases (Energy Efficiency / Renewable Energy). We also address Agriculturally-Related Manufacturing, since our process technology will be constructed and provide high-quality, well-paying STEM jobs in rural locations near farm fields, similar to ethanol plants. Producing regenerative acrylic acid and acrylates brings significant health and welfare benefits through increased efficiency to the $11 billion, 7 million metric ton per annum acrylics value chain used throughout the coatings, adhesives, paints, and superabsorbent polymer industries while increasing economic competitiveness in global markets through new industrial uses for the US' largest crop. The Lakril catalyst is FAU zeolite based modified by engineered bases. To further catalyst life and commercialization, we seek to 1) evaluate the effects and composition of pyruvate impurities on adsorbent media, and process conditions on adsorption equilibria and thermodynamics, 2) perform adsorption kinetic studies using packed columns for promising adsorbents, and 3) determine the effect of feed pretreatment and purification on selectivity to acrylics and long-term catalyst lifetime.