Production and separation of 3-hydroxypropionic acid
The disclosure provides methods and apparatus for producing 3-hydroxypropionic acid or a salt thereof, for removing 3-hydroxypropionic acid from aqueous solution (e.g., aqueous broth), and for using it to make various chemicals.
1. A method of removing 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) from an aqueous solution which comprises the 3-HP and a C 1-3 alcohol, the method comprising:
evaporating a first solvent comprising at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of a C 1-6 alkyl acetate, a C 4-6 alcohol, and a C 1-6 alkyl ether;
condensing the evaporated first solvent; and
directing a flow of the condensed first solvent to remove the 3-HP from the aqueous solution,
wherein the 3-HP is removed from the aqueous solution without using a counter-current liquid flow.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first solvent has density of less than about 1 g/mL, or wherein the first solvent has a density of greater than about 1 g/mL.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first solvent comprises a water-immiscible solvent.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, sec-butyl acetate, tert-butyl acetate, n-pentyl acetate, and n-hexyl acetate.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of n-butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, n-pentyl alcohol and n-hexyl alcohol.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein an amount of the C 1-3 alcohol is from about 5 v/v % to about 50 v/v % of an amount of the aqueous solution.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein an amount of the C 1-3 alcohol is about 20 v/v % of an amount of the aqueous solution.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of 1) a combined volume of the first solvent and the C 1-3 alcohol to 2) a volume of the aqueous solution is in from 1:1 to about 2:1.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3-HP is removed from the aqueous solution with a yield of at least 50%.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the aqueous solution is from about 3 to about 7.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of diethyl ether, dipropyl ether, ethyl propyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether and methyl hexyl ether.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the C 1-3 alcohol comprises an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, and isopropanol.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, sec-butyl acetate, tert-butyl acetate, n-pentyl acetate, and n-hexyl acetate.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of n-butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, n-pentyl alcohol and n-hexyl alcohol.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of diethyl ether, dipropyl ether, ethyl propyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether and methyl hexyl ether.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the C 1-3 alcohol comprises methanol, and the first solvent comprises ethyl acetate.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises a plurality of different C 1-3 alcohols.
18. A method of removing 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) from an aqueous solution which comprises the 3-HP, the method comprising:
a) evaporating a first solvent comprising at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of a C 1-6 alkyl acetate, a C 4-6 alcohol, and a C 1-6 alkyl ether;
b) condensing the evaporated first solvent;
c) directing a flow of the condensed first solvent to the aqueous solution; and
d) after c), adding a C 1-3 alcohol to the aqueous solution to remove the 3-HP from the aqueous solution,
wherein the 3-HP is removed from the aqueous solution without using a counter-current liquid flow.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the C 1-3 alcohol comprises a solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, and isopropanol.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, sec-butyl acetate, tert-butyl acetate, n-pentyl acetate, and n-hexyl acetate.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of n-butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, n-pentyl alcohol and n-hexyl alcohol.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of diethyl ether, dipropyl ether, ethyl propyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether and methyl hexyl ether.
23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the C 1-3 alcohol comprises methanol, and the first solvent comprises ethyl acetate.