Formation and isolation of hydroxycarboxylic acids via a sophorolipid intermediate

US11781159B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Exxon Mobil Technology and Engineering Company · US

Inventors

• Xiaozhou Zhang · Solon, US
• Zarath M. Summers · High Bridge, US
• Partha Nandi · Annandale, US
• Mark P. Hagemeister · Houston, US
• Jihad M. Dakka · Whitehouse Station, US
• Mohor Chatterjee · Annandale, US
• Vera Grankina · Union Dale, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 12, 2020
• Grant date: Oct 10, 2023
• Expiry date: Dec 14, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12R2001/72
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Hydroxycarboxylic acids may be biosynthesized from a carbonaceous feedstock and then isolated through forming and subsequently hydrolyzing an intermediate sophorolipid. After biosynthesizing a hydroxycarboxylic acid in a cell culture medium or otherwise providing a hydroxycarboxylic acid in a first aqueous medium, the hydroxycarboxylic acid and glucose may be converted into at least one sophorolipid by a suitable microorganism or an enzyme cocktail. The at least one sophorolipid may be then be separated from the cell culture medium or first aqueous medium and then hydrolyzed in a second aqueous medium to form the hydroxycarboxylic acid and glucose as free components separate from the cell culture medium or first aqueous medium. The hydroxycarboxylic acid is present as a phase separate from the second aqueous medium and the glucose remains in the second aqueous medium.