Diol Purification via Solubility Parameter Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyldecahydronaphthalen-2-ol as an intermediate for 3a,6,6,9a-tetramethyldodecahydronaphtho[2,1-b]furan suffer from high intensity of abnormal odor and low purity due to complex purification processes and inefficient recovery rates.

Innovation Solution

A process involving microbial conversion where the culture fluid is dried and then contacted with a solvent to adjust the solubility parameter (SP) value within a specific range, allowing for the removal of bacterial cells and subsequent crystallization of the diol, reducing microbial-derived odor and coloration, and enhancing yield and purity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If solvent extraction using ethyl acetate is used to separate and purify the diol, then the diol can be obtained through crystallization, but the product has high intensity of abnormal odor and requires further purification processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurity of diolVSAvoidabnormal odor

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the parameter of solvent type from conventional ethyl acetate to a specific solvent system (acetonitrile, acetic acid, or their mixtures) with different solubility characteristics. This parameter change enables effective separation of the diol from odor-causing components while maintaining high purity, thus resolving the contradiction between purity and odor intensity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of culture odor by using a solvent system that selectively extracts the diol while leaving odor-causing components in the residue. The odor problem is transformed into a separable difference in solubility characteristics between the desired product and impurities

Inventive Principle:

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

2Manufacturing precision

If filtration and solvent dissolution methods are used to separate bacterial cells, then the diol can be purified, but the production process becomes complicated with multiple filtration steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurity of diolVSAvoidcomplexity of purification process

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple separation functions into a single solvent extraction operation. The selected solvent system simultaneously achieves bacterial cell separation, diol extraction, and purification in one step, eliminating the need for multiple separate filtration and dissolution steps while maintaining high purity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The solvent extraction process is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as a filtering medium to separate cells, a dissolving medium to extract the diol, and a purification medium to remove impurities. This multi-functional approach simplifies the overall process while achieving the desired purification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional solvent extraction methods are used, then the diol can be obtained through crystallization, but the recovery rate is low and production efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurity of diolVSAvoidrecovery rate of diol

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the solvent parameters by selecting acetonitrile, acetic acid, or their mixtures with specific solubility characteristics. These parameter changes maximize the extraction efficiency of the diol while minimizing loss, thereby simultaneously achieving high purity and high recovery rate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method efficiently produces high-quality diol with low abnormal odor and coloration, simplifying purification steps and increasing recovery rates, resulting in a high-yield, high-purity product.

Implementation Method 1

drying the culture fluid containing the diol

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

contacting a solvent with the dried product

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

crystallization of the diol

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentEP2400025B1Process for producing microbial fermentation product

Publication Date: 2013.11.20 KAO CORP

AI summary

Provided is a process for producing a diol, which can efficiently produce a diol having a low intensity of abnormal odor and high purity. A process for producing 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyldecahydronaphthalen-2-ol represented by formula (2): the process containinng drying a culture fluid obtained by microbial conversion using a compound(s) represented by formula (1a) and/or (1b) as a substrate, bringing the dried product of the culture fluid into contact with such a solvent that the SP value of the medium obtainable after the contact between the dried product of the culture fluid and the solvent falls in the range of 9.5 to 16 [(cal/cm3)1/2], subsequently removing the microorganism from the medium, and crystallizing the medium.