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US 2006/0222585 A1Published application
Production of organic acid and ammonium nitrate
AssigneeZeaChem, Inc.
InventorsDan Verser, Tim Eggeman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for the recovery of organic acids from dilute solutions such as those produced by fermentation, when the organic acids are present as dilute salt solutions, is provided. The organic acid production process is integrated with a nitrogen fertilizer production process by utilizing wasted chemical energy from the fertilizer process for acidification of the organic acid solution.
Claims20
A method for production of an organic acid and ammonium nitrate, comprising:
- a. reacting a cation/organic acid salt in a solution with nitric acid to acidify the organic acid and form a salt of the cation and nitrate, wherein the cation can form an insoluble carbonate salt;
- b. recovering the organic acid from the solution;
- and
- c. reacting the cation/nitrate salt with ammonium carbonate to form ammonium nitrate and an insoluble carbonate salt.
1 more element
A method for production of an organic acid and ammonium nitrate, comprising:
- a. conducting a fermentation to produce an organic acid salt in a fermentation medium;
- b. neutralizing the fermentation medium with a carbonate comprising a cation that can form an insoluble carbonate salt, whereby a salt comprising the cation and the organic acid is formed;
- c. acidifying the cation/organic acid salt with nitric acid to form an acidified organic acid and a salt of the cation and nitrate;
- d. recovering the organic acid;
- and
- e. reacting the cation/nitrate salt with ammonium carbonate to form ammonium nitrate and an insoluble carbonate salt.
3 more elements
A method for production of an organic acid and ammonium nitrate, comprising:
- a. conducting a fermentation to produce a salt of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, and fumaric acid in a fermentation medium;
- b. neutralizing the fermentation medium with calcium carbonate, whereby a calcium/organic acid salt is formed;
- c. acidifying the calcium/organic acid salt with nitric acid to form an acidified organic acid and calcium nitrate;
- d. recovering the organic acid;
- e. reacting the calcium nitrate with ammonium carbonate to form ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate;
- and
- f. processing the ammonium nitrate into a fertilizer product.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.