Processes for producing monoammonium succinate from fermentation broths containing diammonium succinate, monoammonium succinate and/or succinic acid, and conversion of monoammonium succinate to succinic acid

A process for making SA from a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth, comprising:

• (a) distilling the broth to form a first overhead that comprises water and ammonia, and a first liquid bottoms that comprises MAS, at least some DAS, and at least about 20 wt % water;
• (b) cooling and/or evaporating the first bottoms, and optionally adding an antisolvent to the first bottoms, to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the first bottoms to separate into a DAS-containing first liquid portion and a MAS-containing first solid portion that is substantially free of DAS;
• (c) separating the first solid portion from the first liquid portion;
• (d) recovering the first solid portion;
• (e) dissolving the first solid portion in water to produce an aqueous MAS solution;
• (f) distilling the aqueous MAS solution at a temperature and pressure sufficient to form a second overhead that comprises water and ammonia, and a second bottoms that comprises a major portion of SA, a minor portion of MAS, and water;
• (g) cooling and/or evaporating the second bottoms to cause the second bottoms to separate into a second liquid portion and a second solid portion that consists essentially of SA and is substantially free of MAS;
• (h) separating the second solid portion from the second liquid portion;
• and
• (i) recovering the second solid portion.

A process for making MAS from a clarified MAS-containing fermentation broth comprising:

• (a) optionally adding at least one of MAS, DAS, SA, NH3, and NH4+, to the broth depending on pH of the broth;
• (b) distilling the broth to form an overhead that comprises water and optionally ammonia and a liquid bottoms that comprises MAS, at least some DAS, and at least about 20 wt % water;
• (c) 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;
• (d) separating the solid portion from the liquid portion;
• and
• (e) recovering the solid portion.

A process for making SA from a clarified MAS-containing fermentation broth comprising:

• (a) optionally adding at least one of MAS, DAS, SA, NH3, and NH4+, to the broth depending on pH of the broth;
• (b) distilling the broth to form an first overhead that comprises water and, optionally, ammonia and a first liquid bottoms that comprises MAS, at least some DAS, and at least about 20 wt % water;
• (c) cooling and/or evaporating the first bottoms, and optionally adding an antisolvent to the first bottoms, to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the first bottoms to separate into a DAS-containing first liquid portion and a MAS-containing first solid portion that is substantially free of DAS;
• (d) separating the first solid portion from the first liquid portion;
• (e) dissolving the first solid portion in water to produce an aqueous MAS solution;
• (f) distilling the aqueous MAS solution at a temperature and pressure sufficient to form a second overhead that comprises water and ammonia, and a second bottoms that comprises a major portion of SA, a minor portion of MAS, and water;
• (g) cooling and/or evaporating the second bottoms to cause the second bottoms to separate into a second liquid portion and a second solid portion that consists essentially of SA and is substantially free of MAS;
• (h) separating the second solid portion from the second liquid portion;
• and
• (i) recovering the second solid portion.

A process for making MXS from a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth, where X is at least one of NH4+, Na+ and K+ comprising:

• (a) distilling the broth to form an overhead that comprises water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that comprises MXS, at least some DYS where DYS comprises DAS and at least one of DNaS and DKS, and at least about 20 wt % water;
• (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 separate into a DYS-containing liquid portion and a MXS-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DYS;
• (c) separating the solid portion from the liquid portion;
• and
• (d) recovering the solid portion.

A process for making MXS from a clarified MXS-containing fermentation broth, where X is at least one of NH4+, Na+ and K+ comprising:

• (a) optionally adding at least one of SA, NH3, NH4+, Na+, and K+ to the broth depending on pH of the broth;
• (b) distilling the broth to form an overhead that comprises water and optionally ammonia and a liquid bottoms that comprises MXS, at least some DYS where DYS comprises at least one of DAS, DNaS and DKS, and at least about 20 wt % water;
• (c) 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 DYS-containing liquid portion and a MXS-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DYS;
• (d) separating the solid portion from the liquid portion;
• and
• (e) recovering the solid portion.

A process for making MgS from a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth comprising:

• (a) distilling the broth to form an overhead that comprises water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that comprises MgS, at least some DYS where DYS comprises DAS and MgS, and at least about 20 wt % water;
• (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 separate into a DAS and MgS containing liquid portion and a MgS-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DYS;
• (c) separating the solid portion from the liquid portion;
• and
• (d) recovering the solid portion.

A process for making MgS from a clarified MAS-containing fermentation broth comprising:

• (a) optionally adding at least one of SA, NH3, NH4+ and Mg+2 to the broth depending on pH of the broth;
• (b) distilling the broth to form an overhead that comprises water and optionally ammonia and a liquid bottoms that comprises MgS, at least some MAS, and at least about 20 wt % water;
• (c) 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 MAS-containing liquid portion and a MgS-containing solid portion that is substantially free of MAS;
• (d) separating the solid portion from the liquid portion;
• and
• (e) recovering the solid portion.