Process for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide
US7732172B2 · kind B2 · utility
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Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2028 |
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.
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