Method for recovery of riboflavin
AssigneeCoors Biotech, Inc.
InventorsDale C. Gyure, George W. Lauderdale
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Abstract
A method for the recovery of riboflavin from a fermentation broth or other feed stock is disclosed. The method comprises a process for the production of large, pure riboflavin crystals from an alkaline, aqueous solution containing solubilized riboflavin. The method can further comprise the process for production of large, pure riboflavin crystals in combination with two solids/liquid separation steps, the latter of which can result in a final riboflavin product purity of at least about 96% by weight.
Claims35
A method for the recovery of riboflavin from a first mixture comprising riboflavin and contaminants, said method comprising:
- (a) solubilizing the riboflavin in said first mixture by adjusting the pH of said first mixture to above about 10.0 to produce a second mixture;
- (b) separating contaminants that are larger than said solubilized riboflavin from said solubilized riboflavin in said second mixture to produce a third mixture comprising solubilized riboflavin and remaining contaminants;
- (c) precipitating riboflavin from said third mixture, wherein said third mixture is at a temperature of between about 60.degree. F. and about 100.degree. F., by reducing the pH of said third mixture and contacting said third mixture with an oxidant to produce a fourth mixture comprising riboflavin crystals and remaining contaminants;
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- (d) separating said riboflavin crystals from contaminants that are smaller than said crystallized riboflavin in said fourth mixture.
A method for the recovery of riboflavin from a first aqueous mixture comprising riboflavin and contaminants, said method comprising:
- (a) concentrating said first mixture having a temperature of between about 75.degree. F. and about 85.degree. F. to obtain about a 75% reduction in volume of said first mixture, a riboflavin concentration of at least about 20 g/l, or a solids concentration of at least about 180 g/l;
- (b) solubilizing the riboflavin in said concentrated first mixture by increasing the pH of said first mixture to between about 12.4 and 12.8 to produce a second mixture having a solubilized riboflavin concentration greater than 0.2 g/l and having a temperature of between about 75.degree. F. and about 85.degree. F.;
- (c) separating at least about 75% by weight of contaminants larger than said solubilized riboflavin from said solubilized riboflavin in said second mixture to produce a third mixture comprising solubilized riboflavin and remaining contaminants, said third mixture having a temperature of between about 75.degree. F. and about 85.degree. F.;
- (d) precipitating riboflavin from said third mixture by reducing the pH of said third mixture to between about pH 5.8 and about 6.2 and contacting said third mixture with an oxidant to produce a fourth mixture containing riboflavin crystals and remaining contaminants, said fourth mixture having a temperature of between about 70.degree. F. and about 100.degree. F.;
- (e) concentrating said riboflavin crystals in said fourth mixture;
- (f) separating said riboflavin crystals from said remaining contaminants smaller than said crystallized riboflavin in said concentrated fourth mixture to produce a riboflavin crystal product having a purity of at least 96% by weight;
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- (g) drying said riboflavin crystal product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.