Hydroxycarboxylic Acid Salt Conversion to Unsaturated Acid

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing industrial processes for producing unsaturated acids from hydroxycarboxylic acids are inefficient due to the need for additional steps and facilities to purify fermentation by-products, leading to increased production costs and waste management issues.

Innovation Solution

A method involving an aqueous solution of a hydroxycarboxylic acid salt is treated with a solvent having a boiling point of 200° C or higher, heated at a temperature lower than the solvent's boiling point to split the salt and dehydrate the acid, converting it to an unsaturated acid efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional acid-treatment process is used to collect hydroxycarboxylic acid, then hydroxycarboxylic acid can be collected, but additional purification facilities and waste treatment processes are needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydroxycarboxylic acid collectionVSAvoidpurification facility complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the salt splitting process and dehydration process into a single integrated reaction system. The hydroxycarboxylic acid salt is directly converted to unsaturated acid in one step without separate purification stages, merging multiple functions (salt splitting, dehydration, and purification) into a unified process that eliminates the need for additional purification facilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and removes the problematic intermediate steps (acid-treatment and separate purification processes) from the conventional workflow. By directly converting the salt form produced during fermentation to the final unsaturated acid product through a single integrated process, the harmful intermediate by-products are avoided entirely

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If additional purification processes are implemented, then fermentation by-products can be purified, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveby-product purificationVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary neutralization during the fermentation process itself, converting the produced acid to its salt form in-situ. This preliminary action prevents the formation of problematic by-products that would require costly purification, allowing direct conversion to the final product without additional purification expenses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If conventional process with mineral acid is used, then hydroxycarboxylic acid can be collected, but waste generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydroxycarboxylic acid recoveryVSAvoidwaste generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical form parameter of the hydroxycarboxylic acid from free acid to salt form during fermentation, and then directly converts the salt to unsaturated acid. This parameter change eliminates the need for mineral acid treatment, thereby preventing the generation of inorganic salt waste that would otherwise require disposal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the normally harmful or wasteful intermediate salt by-product into a valuable intermediate that is directly converted to the final unsaturated acid product. The salt form, which would conventionally require acid-treatment and generate waste, becomes the starting material for the final product, turning a potential harm into a benefit

Inventive Principle:

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

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 process effectively converts hydroxycarboxylic acid salts to unsaturated acids with high yield and reduces the need for additional purification steps, thereby lowering production costs and waste generation.

Implementation Method 1

adding a solvent with a boiling point of 200° C. or higher to the aqueous solution; and heating the aqueous solution at a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

heating the aqueous solution at a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent to split the salt of the hydroxycarboxylic acid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Thermolysis

Implementation Method 3

dehydrating the hydroxycarboxylic acid, thereby converting the hydroxycarboxylic acid to the unsaturated acid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDehydration:

Data Source

PatentUS9309181B2Method of producing unsaturated acid from salt of hydroxycarboxylic acid

Publication Date: 2016.04.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method of producing an unsaturated acid from a salt of a hydroxycarboxylic acid, the method includes providing an aqueous solution including a salt of a hydroxycarboxylic acid; adding a solvent with a boiling point of 200° C. or higher to the aqueous solution; and heating the aqueous solution at a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent to split a salt from the salt of the hydroxycarboxylic acid while simultaneously dehydrating the hydroxycarboxylic acid, thereby converting the hydroxycarboxylic acid to the unsaturated acid.