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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Processes for making AA from either a clarified DAA-containing fermentation broth or a clarified MAA-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 AA, 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 AA; 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: A process for making MAA from a clarified DAA-containing fermentation broth includes (a) distilling the broth to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes MAA, at least some DAA, and at least about 20 wt % water; (b) cooling the bottoms to a temperature sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a DAA-containing liquid portion in contact with a MAA-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DAA; (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 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: 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 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: An improved process for the manufacture of technical grade (meth)acrylic acid, e.g., acrylic acid, the process comprising producing a hydrated reaction product from the gas-phase oxidation of at least one (meth)acrylic acid precursor, e.g., propylene, followed by first dehydrating and then concentrating the reaction product, the improvement comprising controlling at least one of the water, acetic acid and (meth)acrylic acid content of the reaction product during the purification of the reaction product using on-line, near IR spectroscopy.

Abstract: The method of inhibiting the polymerization of a mono-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, anhydride, ester or neutralized or partially neutralized sail, e.g., an acrylic acid or ester, in an aqueous solution and in the presence of oxygen, the method comprising the step of mixing with the aqueous solution an inhibitor comprising (i) at least 50 ppm of an N-oxyl compound, e.g.

Abstract: A method of removing color bodies from a fermentation broth includes precipitating a color-forming impurity (color body) by adjusting the fermentation broth to a pH greater than about 13; filtering our precipitated color-forming impurities from the broth; and bleaching a second color impurity by treating the broth with an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: Sulfonic acid catalyst, e.g., methanesulfonic acid (MSA), and noble products, e.g., acrylic acid, butanol and butyl acrylat?, are recovered from acrylate reactor blowdown. The blowndown comprises, among oilier things, the Michael ad ducts of the sulfonic acid and acrylate esters. The blowdown is mixed with water, subjected to conditions sufficient to crack or hydrolyze the Michael add?cts into their constituent parts. These cracking conditions are also sufficient to allow the recovery of the sulfonic acid and constituent parts, as well as other light components of the heavy ends, e.g.

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: The present invention provides novel substituted biphenyl pyrazines or pyrazine derivatives ("BPD") which are functional and have useful application as a monomer for a variety of high performance polymers such as polyester, polyarylate, polycarbonate, polyetherketones, epoxides, polyimides, polyamides, and polyamides-imides; and as pigments for coating compositions such as paints. These BPD have the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.8 and n are defined herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel substituted biphenyl pyrazines or pyrazine derivatives ("BPD") which are functional and have useful application as a monomer for a variety of high performance polymers such as polyester, polyarylate, polycarbonate, polyetherketones, epoxides, polyimides, polyamides, and polyamides-imides; and as pigments for coating compositions such as paints.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel substituted pyrazines or pyrazine derivatives ("NPD") which are functional and have useful application as a monomer for a variety of high performance polymers such as polyester, polyarylate, polycarbonate, polyetherketones, epoxides, polyimides, polyamides, and polyamides-imides. These NPD have the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are defined herein.