Start-up of continuous butyric acid fermentor
US5132217A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 9, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jul 21, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 9, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S435/842
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for starting up the continuous production of butyric acid by fermentation of a medium containing a starting amount of a nutrient substrate and a microorganism that converts the nutrient into butyric acid, that avoids an excess of nutrient in the fermentation broth and comprises the steps of (1) fermenting in a fermentor in batch style an amount of the medium that is substantially less than the working volume of the fermentor until the amount of the nutrient not yet converted is no more than a small fraction of the starting amount, (2) adding medium to the fermentor without removing any of the fermentation broth, until it contains approximately its working volume, then, (3) while continuing the addition, removing the fermentation broth containing the butyric acid product at a continuous rate that maintains a constant volume of medium in the fermentor, and thereafter maintaining continuous operation of the fermentation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.