US3844893A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microbial synthesis
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
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Filing: 1973-02-12
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Granted: 1974-10-29
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Expires: 1993-02-12
Abstract
Abstract In the separation of microorganisms from fermentor growth media, a separating agent such as an alcohol, is added to the fermentor effluent to facilitate separation of the cellular material. A portion of the spent media and separating agent is recycled to the fermentor as carbon energy source therein. Further alcohol separating agent is separated from the balance of the spent media and reused for separation purposes or for use in the fermentor.
Inventors
- 👤 D Hitzman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:08
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/02; C12N1/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/822; Y10S435/83; Y10S435/832; Y10S435/843; Y10S435/848; Y10S435/872; Y10S435/874; Y10S435/911; Y10S435/913; Y10S435/921; Y10S435/929; Y10S435/933; Y10S435/938; Y10S435/944
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
IN A FERMENTATION PROCESS WHEREIN AN OXYGENATED HYDROCARBON AS CARBON ENERGY SOURCE MATERIAL, NUTRIENTS, MINERAL SALTS, WATER, AND AT LEAST ONE MICROORGANISM CAPABLE OF EMPLOYING SAID OXYGENATED HYDROCARBON CARBON ENERGY SOURCE MATERIAL, ARE MAINTAINED UNDER FERMENTATION GROWTH CONDITIONS IN THE FERMENTATION STEP, AND THE RESULTING FERMENTATION PROCESS EFFLUENT THEREFROM SUBSEQUENTLY IS SEPARATED INTO STREAMS COMPRISING CELLULAR MATERIAL AND SPENT MEDIA, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING THE STEPS OF TREATING SAID FERMENTATION PROCESS EFFLUENT WITH A SEPARATING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF LOWER ALCOHOLS, AND KETONES IN THE PROPORTION OF AT LEAST ABOUT 10 VOLUME PERCENT RELATIVE TO SAID FERMENTATION PROCESS EFFLUENT, SEPARATING THE RESULTING ADMIXTURE OF FERMENTATION PROCESS EFFLUENT AND SEPARATING AGENT FROM SAID TREATING INTO A CELLULAR SLURRY STREAM AND A STREAM CONTAINING SPENT MEDIA AND SEPARATING AGENT, RECYCLING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID STREAM OF SPENT MEDIA AND SEPARATING AGENT TO SAID FERMENTATION STEP TO PROVIDE THEREIN AT LEAST A PART OF SAID CARBON ENERGY SOURCE MATERIAL AND SAID MINERAL SALTS, SEPARATING A FURTHER PORTION OF SAID STREAM OF SPENT MEDIA AND SEPARATING AGENT TO RECOVER THEREFROM A PORTION OF SAID SEPARATING AGENT, AND RECYCLING SAID RECOVERED SEPARATING AGENT TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FERMENTATION STEP AND SAID TREATING STEP.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
IN A FERMENTATION PROCESS WHEREIN AN OXYGENATED HYDROCARBON AS CARBON ENERGY SOURCE MATERIAL, NUTRIENTS, MINERAL SALTS, WATER, AND AT LEAST ONE MICROORGANISM CAPABLE OF EMPLOYING SAID OXYGENATED HYDROCARBON CARBON ENERGY SOURCE MATERIAL, ARE MAINTAINED UNDER FERMENTATION GROWTH CONDITIONS IN THE FERMENTATION STEP, AND THE RESULTING FERMENTATION PROCESS EFFLUENT THEREFROM SUBSEQUENTLY IS SEPARATED INTO STREAMS COMPRISING CELLULAR MATERIAL AND SPENT MEDIA, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING THE STEPS OF TREATING SAID FERMENTATION PROCESS EFFLUENT WITH A SEPARATING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF LOWER ALCOHOLS, AND KETONES IN THE PROPORTION OF AT LEAST ABOUT 10 VOLUME PERCENT RELATIVE TO SAID FERMENTATION PROCESS EFFLUENT, SEPARATING THE RESULTING ADMIXTURE OF FERMENTATION PROCESS EFFLUENT AND SEPARATING AGENT FROM SAID TREATING INTO A CELLULAR SLURRY STREAM AND A STREAM CONTAINING SPENT MEDIA AND SEPARATING AGENT, RECYCLING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID STREAM OF SPENT MEDIA AND SEPARATING AGENT TO SAID FERMENTATION STEP TO PROVIDE THEREIN AT LEAST A PART OF SAID CARBON ENERGY SOURCE MATERIAL AND SAID MINERAL SALTS, SEPARATING A FURTHER PORTION OF SAID STREAM OF SPENT MEDIA AND SEPARATING AGENT TO RECOVER THEREFROM A PORTION OF SAID SEPARATING AGENT, AND RECYCLING SAID RECOVERED SEPARATING AGENT TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FERMENTATION STEP AND SAID TREATING STEP.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process according to claim 1 further including the washing of said cellular slurry stream with water, thereby substantially removing remaining traces of separating agent, dewatering said washed cellular slurry, and recycling said wash water containing removed separating agent to said fermentation step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said fermentation step is operated under aerobic conditions at a temperature in the range of about 15* to 60* C., under a pressure of about 0.1 to 100 atmospheres.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process according to claim 3 wherein said temperature in said fermentation step is in the range of about 20*-55* C., under a pressure of about 1 to 30 atmospheres.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said microorganism is a Bacillus, Mycobacterium, actinomyces, Nocardia, Micrococcus, Rhodobacillus, Chromatium, Nitrosomonas, Serratia, Nitrobacter, Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Aerobacter, Escherichia, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Methanomonas, Corynebacterium, Arthobacter, Torulopsis, Torula, Candida, Hansenula, Pichia, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Gibberella, or Fusarium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process according to claim 5 wherein said microorganism is Pseudomonas methanica NRRL B-3449, Pseudomonas fluorescens NRRL B-3452, Methanomonas methanica NRRL B-3450, Methanomonas methanooxidans NRRL B-3451, Arthobacter parafficum NRRL B-3453, or Corynebacterium simplex NRRL B-3454.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 6 wherein said microorganism is a Pseudomonas or Arthobacter species.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said separating agent is methanol, ethanol, a propanol, a butanol, acetone, methylethyl ketone, diethyl ketone, methylpropyl ketone, or admixture of two or more.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process according to claim 8 wherein said separating agent is said lower alcohol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process according to claim 9 wherein said separating agent is added in a proportion of up to about 200 percent relative to said fermentation step effluent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process according to claim 10 wherein said separating agent is substantially methanol, and said separating agent is added in a proportion of between about 10 to 100 volume percent relative to said fermentor effluent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said fermentation step is maintained at a pH dependent on the isoelectric point of cells.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said oxygenated hydrocarbon feedstock contains aldehydes, said oxygenated hydrocarbon feedstock containing aldehydes is pretreated with a nitrogen-containing compound prior to employment of said feedstock in said fermentor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process according to claim 1 further including heating said fermentor effluent to about 65* to 100* C prior to admixing with said precipitant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process according to claim 7 wherein said carbon energy source comprises methanol, said separating agent comprises methanol, said separating agent is added to said fermentor in an amount sufficient to represent About 25 volume per cent in the resulting admixture, and said fermentor effluent was treated with said separation agent at about 40* to 50* C.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3384491A
Cited
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US3530039A
Cited
US3622465A
Cited
US3655511A
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US3644175A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |