Water Solvent Crystallization of Mevalonate Salts Without Organic Solvents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for purifying organic acids from fermentation broths are complex, energy-intensive, and introduce additional substances that may limit product quality and applicability, necessitating more effective, environmentally friendly, and economically feasible processes for recovering organic acids and their salts or lactones.
Innovation Solution
A method involving nanofiltration followed by water solvent crystallization is used to produce crystalline forms of organic acids or salts, such as mevalonolactone monohydrate, without the use of organic solvents, achieving high purity (>90%) and scalability for industrial applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If organic solvent extraction or solid phase absorption is used to purify organic acids from fermentation broth, then purification can be achieved, but additional substances are introduced that limit product quality and applicability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the fermentation broth to precipitate organic acids directly from the aqueous solution. By adjusting pH to acidic conditions, organic acids protonate and precipitate as solids, achieving purification without introducing organic solvents or adsorbent materials that would contaminate the product.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the organic acid from the fermentation broth by pH adjustment and filtration, separating it directly from the aqueous solution without using extraction solvents or absorption media. This removes the harmful factor of introducing additional substances while maintaining purification effectiveness.
2Productivity
If liquid/liquid extraction using partially miscible organic solvent is performed, then organic acid can be recovered, but the process becomes complex and energy-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical liquid/liquid extraction system with a simple pH adjustment and filtration system. Instead of using complex extraction equipment and multiple phase separation steps, the method uses chemical pH control followed by straightforward filtration to achieve organic acid recovery, significantly simplifying the process.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the pH parameter rather than using complex extraction equipment, the patent achieves organic acid recovery through a simpler process flow. The pH adjustment causes direct precipitation that can be filtered easily, avoiding the complexity of liquid/liquid extraction systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional purification methods are used, then organic acid can be isolated, but considerable energy consumption is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the inherent properties of organic acids - their ability to protonate and precipitate at acidic pH - to achieve self-purification. The organic acid essentially purifies itself through pH adjustment and filtration without requiring energy-intensive distillation, evaporation, or complex separation processes, thereby minimizing energy consumption while maintaining high purification levels.
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
The method achieves high-purity organic acid products with minimal color formation, suitable for large-scale manufacturing and personal care applications, by utilizing nanofiltration and water solvent crystallization to purify and recover organic acids and their salts or lactones.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the aqueous solution comprising said organic acid or salt thereof to a nanofiltration to produce a permeate
Implementation Method 2
crystallizing the organic acid or salt thereof from the permeate by water solvent crystallization
Implementation Method 3
The water solvent crystallization comprises evaporating the permeate to obtain a syrup
Implementation Method 4
followed by cooling the syrup to produce crystals of the organic acid or salt thereof
Data Source
AI summary
Compositions and methods are provided for producing crystalline forms of organic acids or salts or lactones thereof from an aqueous solution. More specifically, methods are provided for producing a crystalline form of a salt of mevalonic acid (also referred to as X-MVA) from an aqueous solution, comprising subjecting the aqueous solution comprising said X-MVA to a purification step to produce a purified solution and crystallizing said X-MVA from said purified solution by water solvent crystallization. Methods are also provided for producing mevalonolactone from an aqueous solution comprising X-MVA, comprising subjecting the aqueous solution comprising said X-MVA to cation exchange thereby converting said aqueous solution comprising X-MVA to an aqueous solution comprising mevalonolactone (MVL). Methods are also provided for producing mevalonolactone monohydrate crystals.