A process of isolating 1,4-
butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a
fermentation broth includes separating a
liquid fraction enriched in 1,4-BDO from a
solid fraction comprising cells, removing water from said
liquid fraction, removing salts from said
liquid fraction, and purifying 1,4-BDO. A process for producing 1,4-BDO includes culturing a 1,4-BDO-producing
microorganism in a fermentor for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,4-BDO. The 1,4-BDO-producing
microorganism includes a
microorganism having a 1,4-BDO pathway having one or more exogenous genes encoding a 1,4-BDO pathway
enzyme and / or one or more
gene disruptions. The process for producing 1,4-BDO further includes isolating 1,4-BDO.