Patents Examined by Juhann Richter
  • Method for producing 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid and methacrylic acid from acetone cyanohydrin
    Patent number: 6582943
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid where acetone cyanohydrin is converted to 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity, or having a combination of nitrile hydratase and amidase activities. The invention also encompasses production of methacrylic acid wherein the 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid produced with the catalyst described is dehydrated to produce methacrylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Sarita Chauhan, Robert DiCosimo, Robert Fallon, John Gavagan, Leo Ernest Manzer, Mark S. Payne