Succinic acid production and purification
US5958744A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 13, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 13, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S435/822
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A highly efficient process for the production and recovery of pure succinic acid from a succinate salt that involves minimal use of additional reagents, and produces virtually no waste by-products, and permits internal recycle of the base and acid values, is provided. The method involves the formation of diammonium succinate, either by using an ammonium ion based material to maintain neutral8 pH in the fermenter or by substituting the ammonium cation for the cation of the succinate salt created in the fermenter. The diammonium succinate can then be reacted with a sulfate ion, such as by combining the diammonium succinate with ammonium bisulfate and/or sulfuric acid at sufficiently low pH to yield succinic acid and ammonium sulfate. The ammonium sulfate is advantageously cracked thermally into ammonia and ammonium bisulfate. The succinic acid can be purified with a methanol dissolution step. Various filtration, reflux and reutilization steps can also be employed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.