CORN-DERIVED ETHYL LACTATE FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF BIOBASED ACRYLIC ACID FROM HIGH WATER CONTENT FEEDS OVER FAU ZEOLITE-BASED CATALYSTS

Producing sustainable acrylic acid and acrylates brings significant health and welfare benefits through increased sustainability to the $11 billion, 6.8 million metric ton per annum acrylics value chain used throughout the superabsorbent polymer, paints, coatings, and adhesives markets. Our lactic-to-acrylic technology provides drop-in bio-based acrylic acid and acrylates at cost parity to today's petrochemical acrylics while providing > 80% reduction in CO2 emissions (Energy Efficiency / Renewable Energy). Commercialization of our technology will provide high-quality, well-paying STEM jobs in rural locations near corn fields, similar to ethanol plants, thereby further promoting Agricultually-Related Manufacturing in the United States. US economic competitiveness in global markets will also be increased through new industrial uses for corn-derived commodity chemicals.The Lakril technology includes: (1) a corn-derived lactic feedstock pretreatment process, (2) catalytic dehydration conversion of lactic feedstocks over a bifunctional zeolite catalyst modified by engineered bases, and (3) a separations system to generate high-purity acrylic products. To achieve commercialization and deliver the anticipated benefits to US stakeholders in commercial plants at about 40,000 metric tons per year, we seek to improve our catalytic technology by (a) optimizing the composition of corn-derived lactic feedstocks containing a high water content, (b) developing a robust regeneration procedure for long-term utilization of our catalyst, and (c) scaling up the process 100X. By accomplishing these technical objectives in the Phase II project, we will demonstrate commercial feasibility for the process and be prepared for the next phase of scale-up and commercialization.