Amino Acid Broth Flocculation Before Membrane Filtration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large-scale industrial production of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) is hindered by membrane fouling due to impurities in the filtration process, leading to reduced membrane permeate flux, increased maintenance costs, and decreased product yield.

Innovation Solution

Adding an organic coagulant and/or cationic polymer flocculant to the culture broth to precipitate impurities, followed by membrane filtration, optimizing the pH to 3 to 5 for enhanced flocculation efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If membrane filtration is performed directly on culture broth without pretreatment, then the filtration process is simple, but membrane fouling occurs leading to reduced membrane permeate flux

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration process complexityVSAvoidmembrane permeate flux

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by adding coagulant and flocculant to the culture broth before membrane filtration to precipitate impurities. This pretreatment step removes cells, proteins, and colloidal substances that would otherwise cause membrane fouling, thereby maintaining high membrane permeate flux throughout the filtration process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses coagulant and flocculant as intermediary substances that mediate between the impurities in culture broth and the membrane filtration process. These chemicals cause impurities to aggregate and precipitate, forming a removable sludge that prevents direct fouling of the membrane surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If membrane filtration is performed without impurity removal, then the process is straightforward, but membrane replacement interval becomes shorter increasing maintenance costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess stepsVSAvoidmembrane replacement interval

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by adding coagulant and flocculant before filtration to remove impurities that would otherwise deposit on the membrane. This pretreatment significantly extends the membrane replacement interval by preventing the accumulation of fouling materials that would require frequent membrane replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of impurities (which cause membrane fouling) into a beneficial process by using coagulant and flocculant to deliberately precipitate these impurities as removable sludge. This transforms the problem of impurity-caused fouling into a controlled precipitation process that protects the membrane.

Inventive Principle:

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

3Productivity

If coagulant and flocculant are added to precipitate impurities before membrane filtration, then membrane permeate flux is improved and membrane lifetime is prolonged, but the process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemembrane permeate fluxVSAvoidprocess steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces coagulant and flocculant as intermediary chemicals that facilitate impurity removal. These substances act as mediators between the impurities and the filtration process, causing impurities to aggregate into removable sludge that can be easily separated before membrane filtration, thereby improving flux without requiring complex equipment modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If coagulant and flocculant are added to precipitate impurities, then membrane fouling is reduced and productivity is enhanced, but additional chemicals and process steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct yieldVSAvoidprocess simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by adding coagulant and flocculant to precipitate impurities before the main filtration process. This pretreatment step, while adding chemical agents, actually simplifies the overall manufacturing by preventing membrane fouling that would require complex cleaning procedures and frequent membrane replacement.

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

Improves membrane permeate flux, prolongs membrane lifetime, and enhances productivity by reducing impurities and fouling, thereby increasing the economic viability of amino acid production.

Implementation Method 1

adding an organic coagulant, a cationic polymer flocculant, or both to the culture broth comprising an amino acid to precipitate impurities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoagulation: Coagulation

Implementation Method 2

adding an organic coagulant, a cationic polymer flocculant, or both to the culture broth comprising an amino acid to precipitate impurities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlocculation: Flocculation

Implementation Method 3

subjecting the culture broth with precipitated impurities to membrane filtration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4678758A1Amino acid production method having improved filtration flow rate

Publication Date: 2026.01.14 CJ CHEILJEDANG CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing an amino acid, comprising adding a coagulant and/or a flocculant to a culture broth comprising the amino acid.