Process and adsorbent for separating ethanol and associated oxygenates from a biofermentation system
US8658845B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 23, 2012 |
| Grant date | Feb 25, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E50/30
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Disclosed is a process and an adsorbent for the separation of ethanol associated oxygenates from a dilute mixture of ethanol and associated oxygenates in water in the presence of organic compounds derived from a biofermentation process. After pretreatment, the separation is carried out in a simulated moving bed adsorption system employing an stationary phase adsorbent comprising fluorinated carbon or modified C18 silica gel selective for the adsorption of ethanol and associated oxygenates, such as 2,3-butanediol, with a mobile phase desorbent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, and methyl tertiary butyl ether. The process is useful for removing water from dilute aqueous mixtures of organic compounds comprising ethanol in dilute concentration in water and produced by fermentation, biomass extraction, biocatalytic and enzymatic processes which are not economically recoverable by conventional distillation methods.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.