IP Library Granted Patent US 8,084,626
Granted Patent B1
US 8,084,626 · App. 13/213,677 · Granted Dec 27, 2011

Processes for the production of hydrogenated products

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,084,626
App. No.
13/213,677
Granted
Dec 27, 2011
Kind
B1
Abstract

A process for making a hydrogenated product includes providing a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth; distilling the broth under super atmospheric pressure at a temperature of >100° C. to about 300° C. to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes SA, and at least about 20 wt % water; cooling the bottoms to a temperature sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a liquid portion in contact with a solid portion that is substantially pure SA; separating the solid portion from the liquid portion; recovering the solid portion; hydrogenating the solid portion in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to produce the hydrogenated product including at least one of THF, GBL or BDO; and recovering the hydrogenated product.

Claims (40)

1. A process for making a hydrogenated product comprising:

a. providing a clarified fermentation broth containing an ammonium salt of succinic acid;

b. distilling the broth under super atmospheric pressure at a temperature of >100° C. to about 300° C. to form an overhead that comprises water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that comprises SA, and at least about 20 wt % water;

c. cooling and/or evaporating the bottoms to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a liquid portion and a solid portion that is substantially pure SA;

d. separating the solid portion from the liquid portion;

e. recovering the solid portion;

f. hydrogenating the solid portion in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to produce the hydrogenated product comprising at least one of THF, GBL or BDO; and

g. recovering the hydrogenated product wherein the super atmosphere falls within the range of 50 psi to 367 psi.

2. The process of claim 1 , further comprising purifying the solid portion before step f.

3. The process of claim 1 , further comprising dissolving the solid portion in a solvent before step f to form a solution.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein step f is conducted such that THF is recovered in a vapor phase.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein step f is conducted such that BDO is recovered in a liquid phase.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenation catalyst comprises at least one metal from Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the at least one metal consists essentially of:

(i) about 0.5 to about 10% by weight ruthenium, and

(ii) about 2.0 to about 20% by weight rhenium,

based on total weight of the catalyst.

8. The process of claim 7 , further comprising about 0.1 to about 5.0% by weight of tin.

9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is supported on at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon, silica, alumina, silica-alumina, silica-titania, titania, titania-alumina, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate and strontium carbonate.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the ammonium salt of succinic acid is selected from the group consisting of DAS and MAS.

11. A process for making a hydrogenated product comprising:

a. providing a clarified fermentation broth containing an ammonium salt of succinic acid;

b. adding an ammonia separating solvent and/or water azeotroping solvent to the broth;

c. distilling the broth at a temperature and pressure sufficient to form an overhead that comprises water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that comprises SA, and at least about 20 wt % water;

d. cooling and/or evaporating the bottoms to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a liquid portion and a solid portion that is substantially pure SA;

e. separating the solid portion from the liquid portion;

f. recovering the solid portion;

g. hydrogenating the solid portion with hydrogen in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to produce the hydrogenated product comprising at least one of THF, GBL or BDO; and

h. recovering the hydrogenated product wherein the ammonia separating solvent is selected from diglyme, triglyme, tetraglyme, sulfoxides, amides, dimethylacetamide, sulfones, gamma-butyrolactone, sulfolane, polyethyleneglycol, butoxytriglycol, N-methylpyrolidone, ethers, methyl ethyl ketone.

12. The process of claim 11 , further comprising a purification step before step g.

13. The process of claim 11 , further comprising dissolving the solid portion in a solvent before step g to form a solution.

14. The process of claim 11 , wherein step g is conducted such that THF is recovered in a vapor phase.

15. The process of claim 11 , wherein step g is conducted such that BDO is recovered in the liquid phase.

16. The process of claim 15 , wherein said hydrogenation catalyst comprises of at least one metal from Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

17. The process of claim 11 , wherein the at least one metal consists essentially of:

(i) from about 0.5 to about 10% by weight ruthenium, and

(ii) from about 2.0 to about 20% by weight rhenium, the percentages being based on total weight of the catalyst.

18. The process of claim 17 , further comprising from about 0.1 to about 5.0% by weight of tin.

19. The process of claim 11 , wherein the catalyst supported on at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon, silica, alumina, silica-alumina, silica-titania, titania, titania-alumina, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate and strontium carbonate.

20. The process of claim 11 , wherein the ammonium salt of succinic acid is selected from the group consisting of DAS and MAS.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2023
From: HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH CAPITAL, INC.; OBSIDIAN AGENCY SERVICES, INC.; MITSUI & CO., LTD.
To: LCY BIOSCIENCES INC.
Reel/Frame 063196/0352 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2020
From: BIOAMBER INC.
To: LCY BIOSCIENCES INC.
Reel/Frame 054060/0253 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 16, 2017
From: BIOAMBER INC.
To: MITSUI & CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 043576/0072 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: BIOAMBER INTERNATIONAL S.A.R.L.
To: BIOAMBER INC.
Reel/Frame 040730/0727 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2015
From: BIOAMBER INC.
To: OBSIDIAN AGENCY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034816/0968 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 15, 2014
From: BIOAMBER INTERNATIONAL S.A.R.L.
To: HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH CAPITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 032020/0468 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 25, 2013
From: BIOAMBER INC.; BIOAMBER S.A.S.; BIOAMBER INTERNATIONAL S.A.R.L.
To: HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH CAPITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 031652/0239 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2012
From: BIOAMBER S.A.S.
To: BIOAMBER INTERNATIONAL S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 027531/0268 →