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, comprising:
reacting 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) to form acrylic acid at a pressure of less than one atmosphere to provide acrylic acid,
wherein the 3-HP is neat or the 3-HP is in an organic solvent.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure is less than 100 mbar.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure is in a range of 70 to 100 mbar.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting 3-HP to form acrylic acid is performed in a reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture comprises a zeolite.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the zeolite comprises a 4 A molecular sieve.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein an amount of the zeolite is from 1 wt. % to 5 wt. % based on an amount of the reaction mixture.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein an amount of the zeolite is from 2 wt. % to 4 wt. % based on an amount of the reaction mixture.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting 3-HP comprises heating 3-HP to a temperature of from 80° C. to 180° C.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting 3-HP to form acrylic acid is performed in a reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture comprises an acid.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the acid comprises at least one acid selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid and polyphosphoric acid.
11. A method, comprising:
reacting 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) to form acrylic acid in a reaction mixture; and
removing gaseous acrylic acid from the reaction mixture,
wherein the 3-HP is neat or the 3-HP is in an organic solvent.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising contacting the reaction mixture with a zeolite.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the zeolite comprises a 4 A molecular sieve.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein an amount of zeolite is from 1 wt. % to 5 wt. % based on an amount of the reaction mixture.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein an amount of zeolite is from 2 wt. % to 4 wt. % based on an amount of the reaction mixture.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein 3-HP is reacted to form acrylic acid at a pressure of less than one atmosphere.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein 3-HP is reacted to form acrylic acid at a pressure of less than 100 mbar.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein 3-HP is reacted to form acrylic acid at a pressure of in a range of 70 to 100 mbar.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein reacting 3-HP comprises heating 3-HP to a temperature of from 80° C. to 180° C.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the reaction mixture comprises at least one acid selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid and polyphosphoric acid.