Process and systems for obtaining 1,4-butanediol from fermentation broths

A process of purifying 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) comprising:

• (a) subjecting a crude 1,4-BDO mixture to a first column distillation procedure to remove materials with a boiling point lower than 1,4-BDO from the crude 1,4-BDO mixture to produce a first 1,4-BDO-containing product stream;
• (b) subjecting the first 1,4-BDO-containing product stream to a first intermediate column distillation procedure to remove materials with a boiling point higher than 1,4-BDO, as a first high boilers stream, to produce a second 1,4-BDO-containing product stream exiting from the top of the first intermediate column, and
• treating the second 1,4-BDO-containing product stream with a hydrogenation reaction prior to step (d);
• (c) subjecting the first high-boilers stream to wiped-film evaporation (WFE) to produce a WFE distillate and subjecting the WFE distillate to step (b);
• (d) subjecting the second 1,4-BDO-containing product stream to a second intermediate column distillation procedure to remove materials with a boiling point lower than 1,4-BDO, to produce a third 1,4-BDO-containing product stream;
• and
• (e) subjecting the third 1,4-BDO-containing product stream to a second column distillation procedure to remove materials with boiling points higher than 1,4-BDO as a second high-boilers stream, to produce a purified 1,4-BDO product;
• wherein the crude 1,4-BDO mixture comprises 80% to 85% 1,4-BDO with 1% to 25% water;
• recovery of the purified 1,4-BDO product from the crude 1,4-BDO mixture is greater than 98%;
• and the purified 1,4-BDO product is greater than 98% (w/w) 1,4-BDO.