Hydrogenation of enzymatically-produced glycolic acid/aminomethylphosphonic acid mixtures
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsDavid L. Anton, Robert DiCosimo, Earnest W. Porta
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Abstract
The invention provides a process for the production of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, also known as glyphosate. The process comprises hydrogenating a mixture containing glyoxylic acid and aminomethylphosphonic acid, the mixture having been enzymatically prepared in situ by the reaction of glycolic acid and oxygen in an aqueous solution containing aminomethylphosphonic acid and the enzymes glycolate oxidase and catalase.
Claims9
A process for preparing N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine which comprises hydrogenating a mixture, wherein said mixture is enzymatically produced by reacting glycolic acid and oxygen in an aqueous solution containing aminomethylphosphonic acid and the enzymes glycolate oxidase and catalase.
An improved process for preparing N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine comprising the step of reducing a mixture of glyoxylic acid and aminomethylphosphonic acid by hydrogenation;
- said mixture being enzymatically generated in situ in an aqueous solution by incorporating into the aqueous solution glycolic acid, aminomethylphosphonic acid, a first catalyst adapted to catalyze the oxidation of glycolic acid with oxygen to glyoxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide, and a second catalyst adapted to catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, adjusting the pH of the solution to between 7 and about 10, contacting the solution with a source of oxygen at an effective temperature and sufficient time to convert at least a portion of the glycolic acid component to the glyoxylic acid component in the presence of aminomethylphosphonic acid, and ceasing contacting the solution with oxygen prior to the reducing step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.