Abstract: Processes for making pyrrolidones include providing a clarified diammonium succinate (DAS)-containing and/or monoammonium succinate (MAS)-containing fermentation broth; distilling the broth under super atmospheric pressure at a temperature of greater than 100° C. to about 300° C. to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes SA, and at least about 20 wt % water; cooling and/or evaporating the bottoms to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a liquid portion and a solid portion that is substantially pure SA; separating the solid portion from the liquid portion; and converting the solid SA portion to pyrrolidones.

Abstract: Processes that make nitrogen-containing compounds include converting succinic acid (SA) or monoammonium succinate (MAS) derived from a diammonium succinate (DAS)- or MAS-containing fermentation broth to produce such compounds including diaminobutane (DAB), succinic dinitrile (SDN), succinic amino nitrile (SAN), succinamide (DAM), and related polymers.

Abstract: A process for making a hydrogenated product comprising caprolactone (CLO) and 1,6-hexanediol (HDO) and derivatives thereof from adipic acid (AA) obtained from fermentation broths containing diammonium adipate (DAA) or monoammonium adipate (MAA).

Abstract: A process for making a hydrogenated product includes providing a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth; distilling the broth under super atmospheric pressure at a temperature of >100° C. to about 300° C. to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes SA, and at least about 20 wt % water; cooling the bottoms to a temperature sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a liquid portion in contact with a solid portion that is substantially pure SA; separating the solid portion from the liquid portion; recovering the solid portion; hydrogenating the solid portion in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to produce the hydrogenated product including at least one of THF, GBL or BDO; and recovering the hydrogenated product.

Abstract: Processes for making hydrogenated products including caprolactame (CL) caprolactone (CLO) or 1,6-hexanediol (HDO) and derivative thereof from monoammonium adipate (MAA) and/or adipic acid (AA) obtained from a clarified diammonium adipate-containing (DAA-containing) fermentation broth or monoammonium adipate-containing (MAA-containing) fermentation broth.

Abstract: Processes for making pyrrolidones include making MAS and/or SA from a clarified DAS- and/or MAS-containing fermentation broth and converting the MAS or SA to the pyrrolidones, typically with catalysts at selected temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: A process for making a NH4+OOC—R—COOH compound from a clarified NH4+OOC—R—COO?NH4+ compound-containing fermentation broth includes (a) distilling the broth to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes a NH4+OOC˜R˜COOH compound, at least some of a NH4+QOC—R—COO?NH4+ compound, and at least about 20 wt % water; (b) cooling the bottoms to a temperature sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a NH4+OOC—R˜C00?NH4+ compound-containing liquid portion in contact with a NH4+OOC—R—COOH compound-containing solid portion that is substantially free of the NH4+OOC—R—COO?NH4+ compound; (c) separating the solid portion from the liquid portion; and (d) recovering the solid portion.

Abstract: Processes include providing a clarified diammonium succinate (DAS)- or monoammonium succinate (MAS)- containing fermentation broth; distilling the broth of an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes SA, and at least about 20 wt % water; cooling the bottoms to a temperature sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a liquid portion in contact with a solid portion that is substantially pure SA; separating the solid portion from the liquid portion; and converting the solid portion to produce nitrogen containing compounds such as diamino butane (DAB), succinic dinitrile (SDN), succinic amino nitrile (SAN) or succinamide (DAM) and downstream products.

Abstract: Processes for producing caprolactam (CL) and derivatives thereof from adipic acid (AA) obtained from fermentation broths containing diammonium adipate (DAA) or monoammonium adipate (MAA).

Abstract: Processes for making caprolactam (CL) from monoammonium adipate (MAA) and/or adipic aicd (AA) obtained from a clarified diammonium adipate-containing (DAA-containing) fermentation broth or MAA-containing fermentation broth and converting the MAA or AA to the CL with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst at selected temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: A process for making a hydrogenated product includes providing a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth, distilling the broth to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes MAS, at least some DAS, and at least about 20 wt % water, cooling and/or evaporating the bottoms, and optionally adding an antisolvent to the bottoms, to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a DAS-containing liquid portion and a MAS-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DAS, separating the solid portion from the liquid portion, recovering the solid portion, hydrogenating the second solid portion in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to produce the hydrogenated product comprising at least one of THF, GBL or BDO, and recovering the hydrogenated product.

Abstract: A process for making a hydrogenated product includes providing a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth, distilling the broth to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes MAS, at least some DAS, and at least about 20 wt % water, cooling and/or evaporating the bottoms, and optionally adding an antisolvent to the bottoms, to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a DAS-containing liquid portion and a MAS-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DAS, separating the solid portion from the liquid portion, recovering the solid portion, hydrogenating the second solid portion in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to produce the hydrogenated product comprising at least one of THF, GBL or BDO, and recovering the hydrogenated product.

Abstract: The process for the distillation of a gas mixture comprising (meth)acrylic acid obtained from the gas-phase oxidation of at least one (meth)acrylic acid precursors is improved through the use of coupled distillation columns. In a first column, the gaseous mixture is dehydrated while in a second column, the dehydrated gaseous mixture is distilled into product, overhead and bottoms streams.

Abstract: A process for making a hydrogenated product includes providing a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth, distilling the broth to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes MAS, at least some DAS, and at least about 20 wt % water, cooling and/or evaporating the bottoms, and optionally adding an antisolvent to the bottoms, to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a DAS-containing liquid portion and a MAS-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DAS, separating the solid portion from the liquid portion, recovering the solid portion, hydrogenating the second solid portion in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to produce the hydrogenated product comprising at least one of THF, GBL or BDO, and recovering the hydrogenated product.

Abstract: Processes for making SA from either a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth or a clarified MAS-containing fermentation broth that include distilling the broth under super atmospheric pressure at a temperature of >100° C. to about 300° C. to form an overhead that comprises water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes SA, and at least about 20 wt % water; cooling the bottoms to a temperature sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a liquid portion and a solid portion that is substantially pure SA; and separating the solid portion from the liquid portion. A method also reduces the broth distillation temperature and pressure by adding an ammonia separating and/or water azeotroping solvent to the broth.

Abstract: The process for the distillation of a gas mixture comprising (meth)acrylic acid obtained from the gas-phase oxidation of at least one (meth)acrylic acid precursors is improved through the use of coupled distillation columns. In a first column, the gaseous mixture is dehydrated while in a second column, the dehydrated gaseous mixture is distilled into product, overhead and bottoms streams.

Abstract: Processes for making monoammonium succinate (MAS) and/or succinic acid (SA) from either a clarified diammonium succinate (DAS)-containing fermentation broth or a clarified MAS-containing fermentation broth include (a) distilling the broth to form an overhead that includes water and optionally ammonia and a liquid bottoms that includes MAS or SA; (b) cooling and/or evaporating the bottoms and optionally adding an antisolvent to the bottoms to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the bottoms to produce a solid portion that contains MAS or SA in contact with a liquid portion; (c) separating the solid portion from the liquid portion; and (d) recovering the solid portion.

Abstract: A process for making a hydrogenated product includes providing a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth, distilling the broth to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes MAS, at least some DAS, and at least about 20 wt % water, cooling and/or evaporating the bottoms, and optionally adding an antisolvent to the bottoms, to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a DAS-containing liquid portion and a MAS-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DAS, separating the solid portion from the liquid portion, recovering the solid portion, hydrogenating the second solid portion in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to produce the hydrogenated product comprising at least one of THF, GBL or BDO, and recovering the hydrogenated product.

Abstract: A process for making a hydrogenated product includes providing a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth, distilling the broth to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes MAS, at least some DAS, and at least about 20 wt % water, cooling and/or evaporating the bottoms, and optionally adding an antisolvent to the bottoms, to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a DAS-containing liquid portion and a MAS-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DAS, separating the solid portion from the liquid portion, recovering the solid portion, hydrogenating the second solid portion in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to produce the hydrogenated product comprising at least one of THF, GBL or BDO, and recovering the hydrogenated product.

Abstract: Technical grade acrylic acid derived from renewable resources utilizing a homogeneous nickel catalyst system by a process including reacting lactide with acetic acid to form 2-acetoxypropionic acid in the presence of a homogeneous nickel catalyst, pyrolyzing, with or without a catalyst, the 2-acetoxypropionic acid to acrylic acid and acetic acid, condensing and collecting the pyrolysis products in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s) and purfying the acrylic acid by distillation in the presence of polymerization inhibitor(s). Acrylic acid and methyl acrylate are produced from methyl 2-acetoxypropionate which comes from fermentation derived lactic acid. The disclosed process will produce a “green” (i.e. renewable resources derived) acrylic acid and methyl acrylate ester.