This Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant is for research on developing a commercially viable method for the conversion of sucrose, obtained either from corn sugar or raw cane or beet sugar, into a usable chemical feedstock. The objective is to build and test an electrochemical reactor for the paired electrochemical synthesis of sorbitol and gluconic acid in aqueous solutions from glucose (grain syrup) operated at ambient temperature and pressure. Specific objectives of Phase I will be: (1) the design and fabrication of a proton exchange membrane (PEM)- based single cell electrochemical reactor that maximizes electrode surface area-to-reactant solution volume and that is capable of operating at temperatures up to 100oC; (2) carrying out fundamental investigations and evaluation of the performance of a single cell PEM-based electrochemical reactor for the simultaneous transformation of glucose to sorbitol and gluconic acid at the cathode and anode, respectively; and (3) identification of techniques and the establishment of procedures for the identification and quantification of organic compounds produced on electrochemical treatment of glucose solutions in this manner. Various cathode/anode materials will be tested to see if they are selective in forming sorbitol and gluconic acid from glucose while at the same time lowering the electrical energy needed to achieve fast reaction rates. The anticipated results arising from the proposed technical approach are: (1) a clean technology for deriving economic benefits from a variety of sugar compounds both hexoses and pentoses (xylose to xylitol and xylonic acid); (2) a non-polluting, efficient process, capable of paired electrochemical synthesis of sugar alcohols and acids; and (3) an electrochemical process operating under mild conditions that yields pharmaceutical-grade chemical feedstocks.
