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US 9,790,523 B2Granted
Energy efficient batch recycle method for the production of biomolecules
AssigneeWhite Dog Labs, Inc.
InventorsBryan P. Tracy, Brian J. Waibel, Aharon M. Eyal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided are methods, systems and apparatuses to the energy efficient and selective extraction of biomolecules, e.g., small organic compounds, e.g., one or more C3-C9 alcohols, one or more C3-C5 carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof, from an aqueous solution, particularly aqueous solutions containing the alcohol in dilute or low concentrations, for example, fermentation broths.
Claims20
A method for producing butanol comprising:
- (i) combining a carbon source with a first aqueous solution comprising at least one carboxylic acid, a carbon source, a nitrogen source and extractant to form a fermentation medium;
- (ii) fermenting said medium with a butanol producing organism to form a broth comprising butanol, said carboxylic acid, a carbon source, a nitrogen source and extractant;
- (iii) contacting said broth with an extractant to form an extract and a raffinate, wherein said extract comprises said extractant, butanol and water and wherein said raffinate comprises said carboxylic acid, a carbon source, a nitrogen source and extractant;
- (iv) separating said extract from said raffinate;
- (v) separating extractant from at least a fraction of said extract to form separated extractant and extractant-depleted extract;
- (vi) separating butanol from at least a fraction of said extractant-depleted extract to form a first butanol stream;
- and
- (vii) repeating steps (i) to (vi), wherein said first aqueous solution comprises said raffinate and wherein said separated extractant is used in said contacting;
- wherein
- a. extractant boiling point at atmospheric pressure is under 20° C.;
- b. extractant Hansen solubility parameter polarity component is in the range between 2 MPa0.5 and 8 MPa0.5;
- c. extractant Hansen solubility parameter H-bond component is in the range between 2 MPa0.5 and 8 MPa0.5;
- and
- d. extractant to broth ratio in said contacting is selected so that the formed extract comprises at least 51% of the butanol in the broth.
11 more elements
A method for producing a fermentation product and at least one fermentation coproduct comprising:
- (i) combining a carbon source with a first aqueous solution comprising a fermentation coproduct and extractant to form a fermentation medium;
- (ii) fermenting said medium with an organism to form a broth comprising a product, said coproduct, and extractant;
- (iii) contacting said broth with an extractant to form an extract and a raffinate, wherein said extract comprises said extractant, said product and water and wherein said raffinate comprises said coproduct and extractant;
- (iv) separating said extract from said raffinate;
- (v) separating extractant from at least a fraction of said extract to form separated extractant and extractant-depleted extract;
- (vi) separating product from at least a fraction of said extractant-depleted extract to form a product stream;
- and
- (vii) repeating steps (i) to (vi), wherein said first aqueous solution comprises said raffinate and wherein said separated extractant is used in said contacting;
- wherein
- a. extractant boiling point at atmospheric pressure is under 20° C.;
- b. extractant Hansen solubility parameter polarity component is in the range between 2 MPa0.5 and 8 MPa0.5;
- c. extractant Hansen solubility parameter H-bond component is in the range between 2 MPa0.5 and 8 MPa0.5;
- d. extractant to broth ratio in said contacting is selected so that the formed extract comprises at least 51% of the butanol in the broth;
- and
- e. said coproduct is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and biomolecules characterized by a Hansen solubility parameter component greater than that of said product.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.