Patent ID: 8742060

Claim:
A process for producing nitrogen containing components comprising: (a) providing a clarified DAA-containing or MAA-containing fermentation broth; (b) distilling the broth under super atmospheric pressure at a temperature of greater than 100° C. to about 300° C. to form an overhead that comprises water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that comprises AA, and at least about 20 wt % water; (c) cooling and/or evaporating the liquid bottoms to a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the liquid bottoms to separate into a liquid portion and a solid portion that is substantially pure AA; (d) separating the solid portion from the liquid portion; (e) recovering the solid portion; (f) (1) contacting at least a part of the solid portion with hydrogen and an ammonia source in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to produce HMD, (2) dehydrating at least a part of the solid portion in the presence of an ammonia source to produce ADN or (3) separating the solid portion from the liquid portion; and dehydrating at least a part of the solid portion in the preselux of an ammonia source to produce ADM; and (g) recovering the HMD, ADN or ADM.