Purification Or Recovery Per Se Patents (Class 562/580)
  • Patent number: 11926608
    Abstract: The invention discloses a synthesis method and device for rapidly producing lactide at high yield. The method comprises: adding a single component of lactic acid or two components of lactic acid and catalyst, passing the mixture through a mixer to enter an oligomer preparation system, increasing a residence time through bottom circulation, synthesizing oligomeric lactic acid, and passing a gas-phase component through a rectification system. With the adoption of the device, the lactide is capable of being efficiently synthesized, crude lactide with a yield of 94% to 98% is capable of being obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: NANJING UNIVERSITY, NANJING QUANKAI RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF BIOMATERIALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Jiang, Yunbiao Qi, Ping Sun, Wei Huang, Aimin Li, Quanxing Zhang
  • Patent number: 11834402
    Abstract: A method for recovering a composition enriched in 3-hydroxypropionic acid from a fermentation broth comprising 3-hydroxypropionic acid and/or salts thereof comprises the steps of: (a) providing the fermentation broth having a pH of from about 2 to about 8 comprising: 3-hydroxypropionic acid and/or salts thereof, (b) acidifying the fermentation broth; (c) reducing the total sulfate ion and phosphate ion (d) distilling the resulting reduced ion aqueous solution and (e) recovering the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CARGILL, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Timothy Walter Abraham, Erik Allen, John J. Hahn, Paraskevas Tsobanakis, Eric Christopher Bohnert, Christopher Lawrence Frank
  • Patent number: 11834403
    Abstract: A method for recovering a composition enriched in 3-hydroxypropionic acid by providing the fermentation broth, acidifying the fermentation broth; reducing the total sulfate ion and phosphate ion concentration of the resulting aqueous solution to produce a reduced ion aqueous solution; distilling the resulting reduced ion aqueous solution and recovering the resulting aqueous distillation product comprising 3-hydroxypropionic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CARGILL, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Timothy Walter Abraham, Erik Allen, John J. Hahn, Paraskevas Tsobanakis, Eric Christopher Bohnert, Christopher Lawrence Frank
  • Patent number: 11793785
    Abstract: Crystallized cannabis extract having a purple color is made by first providing cannabis having a detectable amounts of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) as well as secondary components including terpenes. Pentane or other solvent is added to the cannabis material to dissolve the secondary components. The cannabis material is enclosed in a filter basket, or a rosin press filter bag, having an average pore diameter of 25 microns. The centrifuge spins the filter bag or filter basket to separate the THCA from the cannabis material and thereby yielding a primary product that is a concentrated cannabis material having at least 95% THCA and a secondary product (high terpene extract) having combined THCA and secondary components including terpenes. The concentrated cannabis material is distilled in a wiped film evaporator or a short path evaporator to oxidize the concentrated cannabis material and yield a super concentrated cannabis material having at least 98% THC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Vapor Oil Technology LLC
    Inventor: Chad Arthur Carey
  • Patent number: 11691941
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing alkyl hydroxyalkanoates from hydroxycarboxylic acid recovery bottoms. The methods generally comprise the steps of obtaining a hydroxycarboxylic acid recovery bottom, adding a mono-alcohol to the hydroxycarboxylic acid recovery bottom to obtain a first mixture, heating the first mixture, optionally in the presence of a catalyst to form a reaction product, distilling the reaction product, and recovering an alkyl hydroxyalkanoate fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CARGILL, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Timothy Walter Abraham, Anthony Louis Duran, Stephen C. Edgar, Ravi R. Gokarn
  • Patent number: 11495448
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for quantifying an analyte extracted from a sample. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods that involve introducing a solvent into a capillary, introducing the capillary into a vessel including a sample such that a portion of the sample is introduced into the capillary, moving the sample and the solvent within the capillary to induce circulation within the sample and the solvent, thereby causing the analyte to be extracted from the sample and into the solvent, analyzing the analyte that has been extracted from the sample, and quantifying the analyte. In certain embodiments, the quantifying step is performed without knowledge of a volume of the sample and/or solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Zheng Ouyang, Yue Ren, Ziqing Lin
  • Patent number: 11427525
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides method for isolating a long chain dicarboxylic acid such as a substantially pure or pure long chain dicarboxylic acid from a fermentation broth containing microbial cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Bingbing Qin, Yufeng Yang, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11279666
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the recovery of target bio-base carboxylic acid products using a sorption-based technology with a mixed elution solvent optimized for minimized downstream distillation energy input. The sorption-based technology includes absorbing the targeted bio-base carboxylic acid products onto a non-ionic resin and eluting the targeted bio-base carboxylic acid products with a mixed elution solvent. The mixed elution solvent includes a first solvent and a second solvent. The first solvent has a boiling point that is lower than the targeted bio-base carboxylic acid products and the second solvent is selected from the group consisting of a phosphine oxide or tertiary amine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Owen Saboe, Eric M. Karp, Lorenz Perry Manker, Hanna Rose Monroe
  • Patent number: 11059769
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and apparatus for producing 3-hydroxypropionic acid or a salt thereof, for removing 3-hydroxypropionic acid from aqueous solution (e.g., aqueous broth), and for using it to make various chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Noroo IC Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeung Yeop Shim, Ki Soo Park, Ashok Somasundar, Sung Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 10683520
    Abstract: The invention pertains to method for recovering polycarboxylic acid from an aqueous mixture including the steps of: providing an aqueous mixture including polycarboxylic acid and at least 5 wt. % dissolved halide salt, based on the total weight of water and dissolved material in the aqueous mixture; extracting the polycarboxylic acid from the aqueous mixture into a first organic liquid including an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ketones and ethers, thereby obtaining an organic polycarboxylic acid solution and an aqueous waste liquid including the halide salt; and extracting the polycarboxylic acid from the organic carboxylic acid solution into an aqueous liquid, thereby obtaining an aqueous polycarboxylic acid solution and a second organic liquid. The method according to the invention allows a combined purification and concentration step for feed solutions of polycarboxylic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: PURAC BIOCHEM BV
    Inventors: André Banier De Haan, Jan Van Krieken, Tanja Ðekic {hacek over (Z)}ivkovic
  • Patent number: 10604470
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for purifying an aqueous lactic acid solution, obtained from a fermentation medium or from any other source previously cleared of solid substances and/or of biomass that may be present and ionic substances, characterised in that it comprises the two following steps: a. Concentration of the lactic acid solution until a concentration of between 85 and 95% is reached, preferably of between 90 and 95%, i.e. between 15 and 5% free water or preferably between 10 and 5% free water; b. Distillation in a multi-stage column comprising three areas and allowing the separation, in a single step, of the lactic acid, volatile compounds and the heaviest impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Futerro S.A.
    Inventors: Jonathan Willocq, Philippe Coszach, Jean-Christophe Bogaert
  • Patent number: 10550064
    Abstract: A process of separating carboxylic acids comprising two steps. The first step is to provide an aqueous solution comprising (i) one or more mono-carboxylic acids, (ii) one or more di-carboxylic acids, and (iii) one or more tri-carboxylic acids. The second step is to pass the aqueous solution through a collection of resin particles, where the resin particles comprise covalently bound quaternary ammonium groups, and wherein the collection of resin particles has uniformity coefficient of 1.5 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignees: ROHM AND HAAS COMPANY, DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Collin H. Martin, Stephen Pease, Daryl J. Gisch, Stanislas Baudouin
  • Patent number: 10501399
    Abstract: A method of producing lactic acid includes subjecting a lactic acid-containing solution to distillation to collect lactic acid from the vapor side (Step A); subjecting the lactic acid obtained in Step A to crystallization (Step B); subjecting the lactic acid slurry obtained in Step B to solid-liquid separation into lactic acid crystals and a mother liquor (Step C); and circulating the mother liquor obtained in Step C to Step B (Step D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Kawamura, Miyuki Horiguchi, Satoshi Sakami, Katsushige Yamada
  • Patent number: 10279282
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a process for producing an organic acid, comprising: providing an incoming stream containing an organic acid and impurities; subjecting said incoming stream to a step of chromatographic separation, using a solution of mineral acid as an eluent, so as to collect an extract and a raffinate, the organic acid being recovered in the extract; and subjecting the raffinate to an electrodialysis step, so as to collect a diluate and a concentrate, the mineral acid being concentrated in the concentrate. The invention also provides an installation for implementing this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Novasep Process SAS
    Inventors: Damien Brichant, Benjamin Boissier, Patrick Dupuy
  • Patent number: 10214474
    Abstract: Disclosed is the oxidation of uronic acids, such as galacturonic acid, to the corresponding aldaric acids, such as galactaric acid, under neutral or acidic conditions. Use is made of a supported gold catalyst. The oxidation occurs in good selectivity and yield, under unexpectedly mild conditions. A source of galacturonic acids is pectins, such as from sugar beet pulp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: COOPERATIE KONINKLIJKE COSUN U.A.
    Inventors: Daniël Stephan van Es, Rajeesh Kumar Pazhavelikkakath Purushothaman, Augustinus Emmanuel Frissen, Jacobus van Haveren, Frits van der Klis
  • Patent number: 9878321
    Abstract: Described herein are processes and apparatus for the high purity and high concentration recovery of multivalent products via continuous ion exchange from aqueous solutions for further down-stream purification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.Á.R.L.
    Inventors: Mariusz Kamionka, Alex Conradie
  • Patent number: 9056946
    Abstract: To provide a method capable of producing stereocomplex polylactic acid, the method being capable of using carbon neutral materials that are not competitive from foods, such as saccharides, without the use of a method for designing optical resolution, which requires complicated operations and high cost and is difficult to perform mass production. The production method of the present invention comprises: a step of reacting glycerin with sodium hydroxide in high-temperature and high-pressure water to produce a racemic sodium lactate aqueous solution; a step of separating sodium from the racemic sodium lactate aqueous solution to recover racemic lactic acid; a step of dimerizing the racemic lactic acid to produce a lactide mixture containing meso lactide and racemic lactide; a step of separating meso lactide from the mixture to recover racemic lactide; and a step of polymerizing the racemic lactide with a salen-metal complex as a catalyst to produce stereocomplex polylactic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignees: HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATION, TOHOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC., NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION NAGOYA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hisanori Kishida, Takashi Hasegawa, Kenji Miyaguchi, Takehiko Moriya, Nobuyoshi Nomura, Ryohei Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20150112041
    Abstract: A method of producing lactic acid includes removing glycerol from an aqueous lactic acid solution containing glycerol as an impurity using an ion-exchange resin. The lactic acid can be separated simply and at low cost from an aqueous lactic acid solution containing glycerol as an impurity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Kenji Kawamura, Masateru Ito, Katsushige Yamada
  • Publication number: 20150094491
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for recovering carboyxlic acid from an magnesium carboxylate containing aqueous mixture, including the steps of: contacting the aqueous mixture with an acidic ion exchanger, thereby forming a carboxylic acid mixture and an ion exchanger loaded with magnesium ions; contacting the ion exchanger loaded with magnesium ions with a hydrochloric acid solution, thereby forming a magnesium chloride solution; and thermally decomposing the magnesium chloride solution at a temperature of at least 300° C., thereby forming magnesium oxide (MgO) and hydrogen chloride (HCl).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Adriaan Dirk Kon, André Banier De Haan, Paulus Loduvicus Johannes Van Der Weide, Tanja Dekic Zivkovic, Lucien Henri Leander Jozef De Koninck
  • Patent number: 8987510
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the removal of the cyclic diester of a 2-hydroxy alkanoic acid from a vapor containing said diester, wherein the vapor is contacted with an aqueous solution so that the diester dissolves in said solution. According to the invention, the method is characterized in that the solution is an alkaline solution, preferably having a pH above 10. The problem of the formation of slurries of the diester in the aqueous solutions can be prevented by the present invention. The method can be applied with great advantage in the production or conversion of lactide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Purac Biochem BV
    Inventors: Jan Van Krieken, Siebe Cornelis De Vos, Johannes Adrianus Kamp
  • Patent number: 8940801
    Abstract: This invention provides a method related to the preparation of derivatives of poly(ethylene glycol), wherein the method comprises increasing the pH of an aqueous composition comprising a poly(ethylene glycol) bearing a —O—(CH2)n—CO2R3 functional group to result in an aqueous composition comprising a poly(ethylene glycol) bearing a —O—(CH2)n—CO2H functional group, wherein R3 is alkyl and (n) in each instance is 1-6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Nektar Therapeutics
    Inventors: Michael D. Bentley, J. Milton Harris, Antoni Kozlowski
  • Publication number: 20140371486
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing and purifying carboxylic acids from fermentation broths, comprising removing biomass and any solids present from the fermentation broth, finely cleaning up the biomass-free and solids-free fermentation broth by nanofiltration, and removing the carboxylic acid from the finely cleaned, biomass-free, and solids free fermentation broth by adsorption to one or more solid phases having tertiary amino groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Joachim Schulze, Wolfgang Tietz, Isabel Waengler, Klaus Kuehlein
  • Publication number: 20140335581
    Abstract: A method for recovering lactic acid from an aqueous mixture including the steps of: providing an aqueous mixture including lactic acid and at least 5 wt. % dissolved magnesium chloride, based on the total weight of water and dissolved material in the aqueous mixture; extracting the lactic acid from the aqueous mixture into a first organic liquid including an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of C5+ ketones, diethylether and methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether, thereby obtaining an organic lactic acid solution and an aqueous waste liquid including magnesium chloride; and extracting the lactic acid from the organic lactic acid solution into an aqueous liquid, thereby obtaining an aqueous lactic acid solution and a second organic liquid. The method according to the invention allows a combined purification and concentration step for feed solutions of lactic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: André Banier De Haan, Jan Van Krieken, Tanja Dekic Zivkovic
  • Publication number: 20140323682
    Abstract: Disclosed is a test and test apparatus used to determine whether lactic acid is suitable for polymerization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Joachim Schulze, Rainer Hagen, Wolfgang Tietz, Shashank Ghanegaonkar, Udo Mühlbauer, Willi Techlin
  • Publication number: 20140309451
    Abstract: A process for producing high purity 3-hydroxypropionic acid from a fermentation cell broth is described. The 3-hydroxypropionic acid can be converted to a variety of products, such as acrylamide, 3-hydroxypropionic esters, acrylic esters, and 3-HP amide. This process features a high degree of product flexibility, limited or no solvent recycle, discrete waste streams, an efficient water removal process, and efficient recovery of products and solvents with proven and scalable equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: OPX Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert TENGLER, David DeCOSTER
  • Patent number: 8859808
    Abstract: The present invention describes a process for obtaining lactic acid with a high degree of purity from a fermentative liquor (1) containing sodium lactate, with a view to the production of polylactic acid. The process comprises the unitary operations of centrifugation (101), centrifugal decantation (102), microfiltration (103), ultrafiltration (104), primary filtration in an activated charcoal bed (105), conventional electrodialysis (201), ion exchange columns in a chelating resin bed (202), bipolar electrodialysis (203), ion exchange columns (204), primary evaporation under vacuum (302), secondary filtration in an activated charcoal bed (304), liquid-liquid extraction from the aqueous phase to the organic phase (305), back extraction from the organic phase to the aqueous phase (306), and secondary, atmospheric evaporation (402).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Paulo Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8829234
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production and purification of glycolic acid or glycolic acid derivatives by the carbonylation of formaldehyde in the presence of a solid acid catalyst and a carboxylic acid. This invention discloses hydrocarboxylations and corresponding glycolic acid separations wherein the glycolic acid stream is readily removed from the carboxylic acid and the carboxylic acid is recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Scott Donald Barnicki, Robert Thomas Hembre, Stephen Neal Falling, Mesfin Ejerssa Janka, Kelley Margaret Moran
  • Patent number: 8785686
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the extractive recovery of an acid catalyst from an aqueous mixture of glycolic acid with an extraction solvent comprising a tertiary amine or an onium carboxylate compound, a modifier, and a diluent. The acid catalyst, which can comprise strong acids such as sulfuric acid, alkyl sulfonic acids, and fluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, can be recovered by back extraction with aqueous formaldehyde and recycled to a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed carbonylation of formaldehyde. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of formaldehyde.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Scott Donald Barnicki, Stephen Neal Falling, Jeffrey Scott Kanel, Robert Sterling Kline, Peter Borden Mackenzie, Andrew James Vetter
  • Publication number: 20140187816
    Abstract: To provide a method for recovering an anionic fluorinated emulsifier, whereby an anionic fluorinated emulsifier adsorbed on a basic ion exchange resin can be simply and efficiently recovered. A mixed liquid of an aqueous inorganic acid solution, a fluorinated medium and a non-fluorinated medium, is contacted to a basic ion exchange resin having an anionic fluorinated emulsifier adsorbed thereon, to recover a liquid phase containing the fluorinated medium, or an aqueous inorganic acid solution is contacted to a basic ion exchange resin having an anionic fluorinated emulsifier adsorbed thereon, then a mixed liquid of a fluorinated medium and a non-fluorinated medium is contacted thereto, and thereafter the basic ion exchange resin and a liquid phase are separated to recover the liquid phase, whereupon from each liquid phase, an acid of the anionic fluorinated emulsifier is recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Shigeru AIDA, Mizuna TOYODA, Kazuo HAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20140171614
    Abstract: By subjecting an organic acid derived from a biomass resource to oxidation treatment using an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, tert-butylhydroperoxide, ozone, sodium hypochlorite or sodium chlorite, colored impurities contained in the organic acid derived from a biomass resource can be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yamada, Masateru Ito, Katsushige Yamada, Kenji Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8709376
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the extractive recovery of an acid catalyst from an aqueous mixture of glycolic acid with an extraction solvent comprising a tertiary amine or an onium carboxylate compound, a modifier, and a diluent. The acid catalyst, which can comprise strong acids such as sulfuric acid, alkyl sulfonic acids, and fluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, can be recovered by back extraction with aqueous formaldehyde and recycled to a process for the preparation of glycolic acid by the acid-catalyzed carbonylation of formaldehyde.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Scott Donald Barnicki, Stephen Neal Falling, Jeffrey Scott Kanel, Robert Sterling Kline, Peter Borden Mackenzie
  • Patent number: 8703999
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production and purification of glycolic acid or glycolic acid derivatives by the carbonylation of methylene dipropionate in the presence of a solid acid catalyst and propionic acid. This invention discloses hydrocarboxylations and corresponding glycolic acid separations wherein the propionic acid stream is readily removed from the glycolic acid and the propionic acid is recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Scott Donald Barnicki, Robert Thomas Hembre, Stephen Neal Falling, Mesfin Ejerssa Janka, Kelley Margaret Moran
  • Patent number: 8664435
    Abstract: A method of preparing a liquid lactic acid composition that has a total acid content of at least 94% (w/w) and that does not crystallize at a temperature above 10° C. includes obtaining a starting liquid lactic acid composition that has a total acid content of at least 94% (w/w) and that crystallizes at a temperature above 10° C. and incubating said starting liquid lactic acid composition at a temperature above the crystallization point of the starting liquid lactic acid composition for a time period to obtain the liquid lactic acid composition that does not crystallize at a temperature above 10° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Purac Biochem B.V.
    Inventor: Jan Van Breugel
  • Publication number: 20140024769
    Abstract: Process and methods for making glycolic acid chemical intermediates and derivatives from biomass are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: METABOLIX, INC.
    Inventors: Johan van Walsem, Erik Anderson, John Licata, Kevin A. Sparks, Christopher Mirley, M.S. Sivasubramanian
  • Publication number: 20140012041
    Abstract: A method produces a lactic acid salt and includes subjecting an aqueous lactic acid salt solution comprising a formic acid salt in an amount of not less than 7.0% by weight with respect to the lactic acid salt to crystallization, and recovering the lactic acid salt. By subjecting the aqueous lactic acid salt solution including a formic acid salt in an amount of not less than 7.0% by weight with respect to the lactic acid salt to crystallization, supersaturation of the lactic acid salt can be stabilized, and the recovery of the lactic acid salt can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Miyuki Horiguchi, Masateru Ito, Takeshi Munegumi, Katsushige Yamada
  • Publication number: 20130345473
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to processes for the separation of at least one di-carboxylic acid compound and/or at least one mono-carboxylic acid compound from a mixture. The separation processes involve contacting the mixture with an ion exchange medium to cause at least one of the mono- and/or di-carboxylic acid compounds to be retained by the medium, eluting at least one of the mono-carboxylic acid compound or the di-carboxylic acid compound using an eluent to form an eluate, wherein the eluate is enriched in at least one of the mono-carboxylic acid compound or di-carboxylic acid relative to the concentration of such eluted acid in the mixture having contacted the medium and wherein the eluent comprises an organic acid. The process has particular utility in the production of di-carboxylic acid compounds from glucose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Rennovia, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond ARCHER, Gary M. DIAMOND, Eric L. DIAS, Vincent J. MURPHY, Miroslav PETRO, John D. SUPER
  • Publication number: 20130345309
    Abstract: Malic acid-enriched plant extracts useful as food additives are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: EPC (Beijing) Natural Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jingang Shi, Wenchao Lu
  • Publication number: 20130245320
    Abstract: The present invention describes a process for obtaining lactic acid with a high degree of purity from a fermentative liquor (1) containing sodium lactate, with a view to the production of polylactic acid. The process comprises the unitary operations of centrifugation (101), centrifugal decantation (102), microfiltration (103), ultrafiltration (104), primary filtration in an activated charcoal bed (105), conventional electrodialysis (201), ion exchange columns in a chelating resin bed (202), bipolar electrodialysis (203), ion exchange columns (204), primary evaporation under vacuum (302), secondary filtration in an activated charcoal bed (304), liquid-liquid extraction from the aqueous phase to the organic phase (305), back extraction from the organic phase to the aqueous phase (306), and secondary, atmospheric evaporation (402).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: COMPANHIA REFINADORA DA AMAZONIA
    Inventor: Paulo Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8519185
    Abstract: Glycolic acid having a high purity is obtained by subjecting glycolic acid or a glycolic acid solution containing contaminants to double-chamber electrodialysis combined with one or more treatments selected from among treatment with an activated carbon, treatment with an ion exchange resin, concentration treatment and cooling crystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinya Okazaki, Kaori Matoishi, Kiyoshi Itou
  • Patent number: 8481675
    Abstract: A process for recycling a polymer blend necessarily containing PLA, comprising grinding, compacting, dissolving in a solvent of PLA, removing the undissolved contamining polymers, alcoholysis depolymerisation reaction and purification steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Galactic S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Coszach, Jean-Christophe Bogaert, Jonathan Willocq
  • Patent number: 8481783
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating glyoxylic acid starting from an aqueous reaction medium containing glyoxylic acid and hydrochloric acid, comprising a step of countercurrent steam stripping of the reaction medium in order to obtain, on the one hand, a gas phase containing the volatile hydrochloric acid and, on the other hand, a liquid phase containing the purified glyoxylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Clariant Speciality Fine Chemicals (France)
    Inventor: Olivier Simon
  • Patent number: 8471062
    Abstract: Method for purifying lactic acid by crystallization in one or a plurality of steps, characterized in that crystals are formed from an impure aqueous lactic acid solution having a color of >500 Hazen, at a concentration between 85 and 95% by controlling the lactic acid oligomer content expressed in terms of a relative monomer content greater than 80% and controlling the degree of supersaturation of the solution between 1 and 60% in order to obtain lactic acid crystals having a specific surface area by mass of <0.05 m2/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Galactic S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Coszach, Jean-Christophe Bogaert, Pierre-Antoine Mariage, Angelo Chianese, Maria-Paola Parisi
  • Patent number: 8444857
    Abstract: A method for purifying a fluorinated carboxylic acid having an etheric oxygen atom and its derivative, with small decomposition and inclusion of impurities. A liquid containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of a fluorinated compound represented by application formulae (1) and (2) is held at a heating temperature of at most 150° C. and distilled. Further, the liquid is a liquid obtained from any of a waste liquid after an aqueous emulsion of a fluoropolymer is coagulated and the fluoropolymer is separated, an aqueous liquid obtained by cleaning an exhaust gas in a step of drying and/or a step of heat treatment of the separated fluoropolymer, and a liquid obtained by cleaning an anion exchange resin which has been brought into contact with the waste liquid or an aqueous dispersion obtained from the aqueous emulsion of the fluoropolymer, with an alkaline aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hirokazu Takagi, Ryuji Seki
  • Patent number: 8431677
    Abstract: Method for purifying a conventional polymer stream (PE, PP, PET, PVC, etc.) contaminated with not more than 50% PLA, comprising steps for the suspension of the polymer with solubilisation of the PLA fraction and the recovery of the purified polymer after separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Galactic S. A.
    Inventors: Philippe Coszach, Jonathan Willocq
  • Publication number: 20120289742
    Abstract: This present invention relates to the processes for the purification of succinic acid from a fermentation broth containing ammonium succinate. The process for the purification of succinic acid described in this invention involves the use of ion exchange resins for splitting the ammonium succinate in the fermentation broth. During the passage of the fermentation broth through a cationic ion exchange resin, the ammonium succinate is split into ammonium cation and the succinate anion. The proton on the resin surface is exchanged for the ammonium ions and the succinate anion is reduced to succinic acid with the protons released from the ion exchange resin. The bound ammonium is released from the resin with the addition of a strong acid such as sulfuric acid and thereby the ion exchange resin is regenerated for subsequent use. The ammonium sulfate by-product resulting from the regeneration step of this process can be used as a source of fertilizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Steven J. Gerberding, Ramnik Singh
  • Publication number: 20120283383
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a (per)fluoropolymer, said process comprising polymerizing one or more fluorinated monomers in the presence of a multi-phase medium, said medium comprising: (A) a water phase [phase (W)]; (B) at least one fluorinated surfactant [surfactant (FS)] having formula (I) here below: Rf—(OCF2CF2)k-1—O—CF2—COOXa??(I) wherein Rf is a C1-C3 perfluoroalkyl group comprising, optionally, one or more ether oxygen atoms, k is 2 or 3 and Xa is a selected from a monovalent metal and an ammonium group of formula NRN4, wherein RN, equal or different at each occurrence, is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C3 alkyl group; (C) an oil phase [phase (O)] comprising: at least one non-functional (per)fluoropolyether (non-functional PFPE) comprising at least one (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain [chain (RF)] and at least one functional (per)fluoropolyether (functional PFPE) comprising at least one (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain [chain (R?F)] and having a number average molecular
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS ITALY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Riccardo Pieri, Valeri Kapeliouchko, Liubov Chernysheva
  • Publication number: 20120271065
    Abstract: To provide a method for recovering an anionic fluorinated emulsifier, capable of easily and efficiently recovering an anionic fluorinated emulsifier adsorbed on a basic ion exchange resin. A basic ion exchange resin is brought into contact with a mixture of an aqueous inorganic acid solution and a non-aqueous fluorinated medium, or the basic ion exchange resin is brought into contact with an aqueous inorganic acid solution and then brought into contact with a non-aqueous fluorinated medium, then a phase of the non-aqueous fluorinated medium is recovered, and an acid of the anionic fluorinated emulsifier is recovered from the phase of the non-aqueous fluorinated medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Junko Haga, Yasuhiko Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8293939
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method for removing vicinal diols from a lactic acid fermentation broth comprise the steps of contacting the lactic acid fermentation broth with functionalized silica comprising at least one hydrophobic ligand to facilitate binding of the vicinal diols to the hydrophobic ligand, and separating the contacted lactic acid fermentation broth from the functionalized silica to remove the vicinal diols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Chana W. Evans, Ralph B. Fogg, James H. Hand, Anthony Revis
  • Patent number: 8293940
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovery and purification of lactic acid from a fermentation broth containing lactic acid. The process comprises subjecting the fermentation broth to ultrafiltration and/or microfiltration to form a first permeate, concentrating the first permeate to form concentrated broth, subjecting the concentrated broth to supported liquid membrane for extraction of lactic acid into a separate stream, subjecting the extracted lactic acid solution to activated carbon for removal of color, subjecting the extracted lactic acid solution to cation exchange resin for deminerization, subjecting the extracted lactic acid solution to anion exchange resin for removal of anionic impurities and concentrating the extracted lactic acid solution to desired concentration. The supported liquid membrane of the present invention contains an organic layer that comprises a earner, a co-extractant, a diluent and a stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hyflux IP Resources Pte, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ooi Lin Lum, Govindharaju Venkidachalam, Yew Chin Neo
  • Publication number: 20120238777
    Abstract: A method is provided for concentrating a material solution using at least two consecutive membrane separating stages, each stage for separating the material solution into a retentate and a permeate. The cut-off of the membranes used in the separating stages is higher than that of the membrane used in the previous stage. The retentate of each separating stage, with the exception of the last stage, is fed to the following separating stage as a feed, and the permeate from at least one separating stage is fed back to a preceding separating stage and introduced into the feed thereof. The fed-back permeate has a concentration and viscosity that substantially corresponds to the concentration and viscosity of the preceding separating stage into which the permeate is introduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT WIEN
    Inventors: Michael Harasek, Saeed Gul