Process for producing microorganisms from ethylene
US3954561A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1974 |
| Grant date | May 4, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 1994 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S435/942
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention is an improvement in the prior art processes for producing a microorganism using ethylene as a carbon source. The improvement comprises: 1. hydrating ethylene by contacting ethylene and water, both being in the vapor phase, with a supported phosphoric acid catalyst to form an aqueous-phase effluent comprising ethanol, diethyl ether, acetaldehyde, dissolved phosphate and water; 2. feeding said effluent without substantial purification to a microorganism fermentation zone; and 3. withdrawing from the fermentation zone an effluent and separating said microorganisms from said effluent and recycling to said hydration zone at least a portion of the unreacted water, ethanol, ether and aldehydes along with excess residual salts.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.