High temperature PHA extraction using PHA-poor solvents
US6087471A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 11, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12P7/625
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polyester is extracted from biomass by dissolving the PHA in a non-halogenated solvent which comprises a PHA-poor solvent that dissolves less than 1% of the PHA at temperatures less than the solvent boiling point, or a mixture of a PHA-poor solvent and a PHA-good solvent. Following extraction of PHA under pressure at a temperature above about 80.degree. C., typically above the boiling point of the PHA-poor solvent, PHA polymer is precipitated by cooling the PHA-enriched solvent mixture. Suitable PHA-poor solvents can include linear and branched R.sub.1 --OH alcohols and R.sub.2 --COOR.sub.3 esters where R.sub.1 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.4, R.sub.2 =H, C.sub.1,C.sub.2, or C.sub.3, and R.sub.3 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.5.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.