RECOVERY OF HIGHER ALCOHOLS FROM DILUTE AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

• Main Authors: HAWKINS ANDREW C, EVANKO WILLIAM A, BROTHERS MARK, EVANS KENT, ARISTIDOU ARISTOS A, DROBISH KEN, LUCAS SCOTT
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.12.2014
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; ENZYMOLOGY; FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIREDCHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERSFROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; SEPARATION; SPIRITS; TRANSPORTING; VINEGAR; WINE

This invention is directed to methods for recovery of C3-C6 alcohols from dilute aqueous solutions, such as fermentation broths. Such methods provide improved volumetric productivity for the fermentation and allow recovery of the alcohol. Such methods also allow for reduced energy use in the production and drying of spent fermentation broth due to increased effective concentration of the alcohol product by the simultaneous fermentation and recovery process which increases the quantity of alcohol produced and recovered per quantity of fermentation broth dried. Thus, the invention allows for production and recovery of C3-C6 alcohols at low capital and reduced operating costs.