Patent ID: 8703900

Claim:
A process for producing CL from a clarified DAA-containing fermentation broth, comprising: (a) distilling the broth to form an overhead that comprises water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that comprises MAA, at least some DAA, and at least about 20 wt % water; (b) cooling and/or evaporating the bottoms, and optionally adding an antisolvent to the bottoms, to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a DAA-containing liquid portion and a MAA-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DAA; (c) separating the solid portion from the liquid portion; (d) recovering the solid portion; and (e) contacting at least a portion of the solid portion with hydrogen, optionally in the presence of a solvent, in the presence of to hydrogenation catalyst and, optionally an ammonia source, at a temperature of about 25° C. to about 500° C. and a pressure of about 0.5 to about 40 MPa to produce the CL.