Process for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide
US7445917B2 · kind B2 · utility
4Cited by
20References
25Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2005 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 16, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12P7/42
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.