Abstract: A solvent composition that comprises a C1-C4 lactate ester and an odor-reducing amount of a tertiary amine having a boiling point at one atmosphere of about 80° C. to about 160° C. is disclosed. The composition (a) is substantially free of odor due to the tertiary amine, (b) exhibits a reduced amount of odor due to the lactate ester as compared to the same composition without the tertiary amine, and (c) is a homogeneous liquid or gel at zero degrees Celsius. A method of reducing the odor of a lactate ester-based solvent is also disclosed.

Abstract: Processes for the production of polysaccharide ethers, e.g. cellulose ethers, are disclosed wherein salts formed during the process, e.g., sodium nitrate or sodium acetate, are converted to their corresponding acids and bases by means of an electric current, preferably in combination with a bipolar membrane and suitable cation and/or anion membranes. The acids and bases recovered from the processes can be recycled, thereby avoiding the need to provide for disposal of the salts.

Abstract: A porous immobilized ion-exchange material is provided. Also provided is an electrodeionization device incorporating the material. A method for subjecting a fluid to electrodeionization, is provided utilizing porous immobilized ion-exchange material. A salient feature of the material is that it can be regenerated in situ.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing porous hydrophilic materials whereby nonporous materials are subjected to ester hydrolysis to generate site-specific perforations. Processes for separating aqueous phase from organic and aqueous mixtures utilizing the invented materials also are provided.

Abstract: A low temperature method for esterifying ammonium- and amine-containing salts is provided whereby the salt is reacted with an alcohol in the presence of heat and a catalyst and then subjected to a dehydration and deamination process using pervaporation.The invention also provides for a method for producing esters of fermentation derived, organic acid salt comprising first cleaving the salt into its cationic part and anionic part, mixing the anionic part with an alcohol to create a mixture; heating the mixture in the presence of a catalyst to create an ester; dehydrating the now heated mixture; and separating the ester from the now-dehydrated mixture.

Abstract: An integrated membrane-based process method for producing hydrogen peroxide is provided comprising oxidizing hydrogenated anthraquinones with air bubbles which were created with a porous membrane, and then contacting the oxidized solution with a hydrophilic membrane to produce an organics free, H.sub.2 O.sub.2 laden permeate.

Abstract: A short process is disclosed for the production of citric acid in high yield and purity. Conidia of Aspergillus niger are cultured in an aqueous solution of decationized glucose syrup in a fermentation medium whose manganese(II) concentration is 2.5 to less than 20 parts per billion and whose pH value is about 1.5 to about 3.0. The fermentation medium is maintained for about 4-7 days to form citric acid and mycelia pellets in an aqueous product broth. That broth is filtered and then electrodialyzed to form a citric acid-containing aqueous broth. That broth is decolorized and ion-exchanged to remove color and inorganic ions and form an aqueous citric acid solution in which citric acid constitutes at least 98 percent of the organic acid present.

Abstract: A biologically pure asporogenic mutant of Clostridium acetobutylicum is produced by growing sporogenic C. acetobutylicum ATCC 4259 and treating the parent strain with ethane methane sulfonate. The mutant which as been designated C. acetobutylicum ATCC 55025 is useful in an improved ABE fermentation process, and produces high concentrations of butanol and total solvents.

Abstract: A process for economically producing highly purified succinic acid comprises growing a succinate-producing microorganism on a low cost carbohydrate substrate; simultaneously neutralizing the fermentation broth and precipitating the succinate as calcium succinate by adding a calcium ion source to form calcium succinate; isolating the calcium succinate; slurrying the calcium succinate in water and treating it with sulfuric acid to form calcium sulfate and succinic acid; and then treating the succinic acid with first a strongly acidic ion exchanger and then a weakly basic ion exchanger to remove impurities and obtain a highly purified succinic acid product. In a preferred embodiment, the calcium succinate is isolated from the fermentation broth by filtration; the filtrate is heated to precipitate additional calcium succinate; and, the spent filtrate which contains nutrients is recycled to the fermentor.

Abstract: A method of producing succinic acid comprises growing a succinate producing microorganism in medium containing sodium ions an assimilable carbohydrate, other required nutrients and dissolved carbon dioxide at pH of about 5.8 to about 6.4. The succinic acid can be isolated from the fermentation broth if it is present in high enough concentrations by maintaining the pH at about 5.8 to about 6.4 and adding calcium hydroxide so that calcium succinate precipitates.

Abstract: A process for producing and purifying succinic acid comprises growing a succinate salt-producing microorganism on an inexpensive substrate containing carbohydrate, other nutrients, sodium ions and tryptophan under a CO.sub.2 partial pressure until most of the carbohydrate is converted to succinate. The fermentation broth is then electrodialyzed to recover and concentrate the succinate salt in an aqueous stream which is subjected to water-splitting electrodialysis to form base and a succinic acid product. The resulting succinc acid product is treated first with a strongly acidic ion exchanger in the acid form to remove any sodium or other cations and then treated with a weakly basic ion exchanger in the free base form to remove any sulfate ions or sulfuric acid and to obtain a highly purified succinic acid product.

Abstract: A process including multistage continuous fermentation followed by batch fermentation with carefully chosen temperatures for each fermentation step, combined with an asporogenic strain of C. acetobutylicum and a high carbohydrate substrate concentration yields extraordinarily high butanol and total solvents concentrations.

Abstract: A process for producing, recovering and purifying lactate from a fermentation broth so that it can be efficiently and economically converted to lactic acid is disclosed. The process comprises growing a high lactate producing, microorganism on an inexpensive substrate until a whole broth containing about 75 to about 90 grams of lactate salt is obtained. The whole broth including the viable cells is then electrodialyzed in a unit having anionic-permeable and cationic-permeable membranes to cause the lactate salt to concentrate in an aqueous liquid which can be treated to convert the lactate salt to lactic acid.

Abstract: A formate salt is used as part of the fermentable carbon-containing material in an anaerobic fermentation to produce acetic acid. Acetate salt formed in the fermentation is converted to free acetic acid with formic acid, which in turn is changed to formate salt. This formate salt then is used as a carbon source for another fermentation.

Abstract: Acetic, propionic, and butyric acids are produced by a two-step fermentation process. Lactate salts formed in the second fermentation step, a biochemical acidification step, are used as the carbon source in the first fermentation step.

Abstract: Butanol, acetone and fatty acids are produced by direct fermentation of a low-cost source of carbohydrates by Clostridium acetobutylicum. The carbohydrate source is selected from the group consisting of corn fiber, xylan, and mixtures of corn fiber and xylan.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of butanol by fermentation of carbon-containing compounds with C. acetobutylicum is disclosed. The fermentation is conducted in an aqueous medium containing a sufficient concentration of dissolved carbon monoxide to give increased yields of butanol while suppressing the formation of hydrogen and acetone. This fermentation also gives increased conversion of butyric acid to solvents.

Abstract: Fermentation broths or impure solutions containing thienamycin, a substance having antibiotic activity against gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms, are isolated using liquid ion exchange systems.

Abstract: Fermentation broths or impure solutions containing Cephamycin C, a substance having antibiotic activity against gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms, are isolated using liquid anion exchange systems.