Nicotinic Acid Preparation via Quinolinic Acid Decarboxylation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing nicotinic acid face challenges such as high energy requirements, environmental issues due to non-renewable resources, and low yield, with chemical synthesis generating toxic wastes and biological production methods experiencing transcriptional suppression and feedback inhibition.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the incubation of microorganisms to produce quinolinic acid, followed by decarboxylation with an acid in the culture solution to convert quinolinic acid to nicotinic acid, optimizing enzyme activities and gene expression to enhance production yield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If chemical synthesis methods are used to produce nicotinic acid, then production efficiency is improved, but toxic wastes are generated in large quantities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidtoxic wastes
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful byproduct quinolinic acid (which was previously discarded or required complex purification) into a valuable intermediate for nicotinic acid production. By utilizing the decarboxylation of quinolinic acid, the method transforms waste material into the desired product, eliminating toxic catalyst waste while maintaining high production efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces quinolinic acid as an intermediary substance in the production pathway. Rather than directly synthesizing nicotinic acid from petrochemical feedstocks (which generates toxic waste), the method uses quinolinic acid as a biodegradable intermediate that can be cleanly converted to nicotinic acid through decarboxylation, serving as a bridge between biological production and chemical conversion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If hydrothermal decarboxylation is used to convert quinolinic acid to nicotinic acid, then no catalyst waste is produced, but high temperature and high pressure are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalyst wasteVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the reaction parameters from extreme hydrothermal conditions (150-250°C, 1-2 MPa) to milder conditions by introducing acid catalysis. The acid treatment enables decarboxylation to proceed efficiently at lower temperatures and pressures, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining the advantage of no catalyst waste in the final product

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If biological production methods are used to produce nicotinic acid, then renewable materials are utilized, but transcriptional suppression and feedback inhibition reduce yield

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidproduction yield
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the production process into two distinct stages: (1) biological production of quinolinic acid using renewable materials and engineered microorganisms, and (2) chemical decarboxylation to produce nicotinic acid. This segmentation allows optimization of each stage independently - using green biology for the first stage and efficient chemistry for the second, thereby achieving both environmental sustainability and high production yield

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary action by having microorganisms produce and accumulate quinolinic acid in the culture medium before the decarboxylation step. This preliminary biological production phase allows for high concentration of the intermediate substrate, which then facilitates efficient conversion to nicotinic acid in the subsequent acid treatment step, overcoming the low yield limitations of direct biological production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach addresses the limitations of previous methods by achieving a higher yield of nicotinic acid in an environmentally friendly and efficient manner, reducing energy consumption and waste generation.

Implementation Method 1

prokaryotes utilize the pathway to synthesize nicotinic acid from aspartic acid as the starting material as the main pathway

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzymatic reaction: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

obtaining a culture solution containing quinolinic acid by incubating a microorganism having an ability to produce quinolinic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 3

adding an acid to the culture solution to decarboxylate quinolinic acid, thereby converting quinolinic acid to nicotinic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDecarboxylation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP2663646B1Method for the preparation of nicotinic acid
Publication Date: 2018.09.12 CJ CHEILJEDANG CORP
  • EP2663646B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2663646B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2663646B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of nicotinic acid, which comprises the step of obtaining a culture solution containing quinolinic acid by incubating a microorganism having an ability to produce quinolinic acid, and the step of adding an acid to the culture solution and conducting a decarboxylation reaction.