Patent ID: 7572376
Filing Date: 2009-08-11
Classification: B01D,C02F,C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for the recovery of 1,3-propanediol from a fermentation broth comprising 1,3-propanediol, comprising the steps of: contacting a fermentation broth that comprises greater than about 10 wt % water, about 5-85 wt % 1,3-propanediol, and about 5-70 wt % of at least one contaminant selected from glycerol, glucose, and butanetriol, with at least one solvent extractant to form a first mixture, wherein the solvent extractant is selected from the group consisting of pentanol, propan-1-ol, hexanol, oleyl alcohol, 4-methyl pentan-2-one, isopropyl acetate, tributyl phosphate, oleic acid, soya oil, castor oil, and combinations thereof, and wherein the volume/volume ratio of solvent extractant to fermentation broth is between 1:4 and 50:1, separating the first mixture into a first phase and a second phase, wherein the first phase comprises a majority of the solvent extractant and at least some of the 1,3-propanediol that was present in the fermentation broth, and the weight ratio in the first phase of 1,3-propanediol to at least one of glycerol, glucose, or butanetriol is greater than the weight ratio of 1,3-propanediol to the same contaminant in the fermentation broth prior to the fermentation broth being contacted with the solvent extractant, wherein the second phase comprises a majority of the water and at least some of the contaminant from the fermentation broth, recovering 1,3-propanediol by removing the first phase from the second phase, contacting the removed first phase with a first quantity of aqueous solution to form a second mixture, wherein the volume ratio of the first quantity of aqueous solution to the first phase is between about 20:1 and about 1:20, and separating the second mixture into a third phase and a fourth phase, wherein the third phase comprises a majority of solvent extractant of the first phase, and wherein the fourth phase comprises 1,3-propanediol and a majority of the first quantity of aqueous solution, the weight ratio in the fourth phase of the 1,3-propanediol to at least one of glycerol, glucose, or butanetriol is greater than the weight ratio of 1,3-propanediol to the same contaminant in the fermentation broth prior to the fermentation broth being contacted with the solvent extractant, and said contacting and recovering steps result in the concentration of 1,3 propanediol in the fourth phase being over 99 wt % on a water-excluded basis.