Rhamnolipid Production by Solvent-Free Acid Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing rhamnolipids are cumbersome, resource-intensive, and involve the use of organic solvents, leading to high production costs and contamination with hydrophobic impurities.
Innovation Solution
An organic solvent-free method involving non-filtration based sterilization, acid treatment, and phase separation to obtain a concentrated clarified broth comprising rhamnolipids, eliminating the need for petroleum-derived solvents and reducing production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If organic solvent extraction is used to isolate rhamnolipids, then rhamnolipid concentration is improved, but production cost increases and hydrophobic impurities are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the fermentation broth to induce rhamnolipid precipitation. By adjusting pH to acidic conditions, rhamnolipids precipitate out of solution, allowing separation from the aqueous phase without organic solvents. This parameter change enables concentration while avoiding hydrophobic impurities that would be introduced by solvent extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of rhamnolipids from dissolved state to precipitated state through pH adjustment. The rhamnolipids transition from being soluble in the fermentation broth to forming a separate precipitated phase, enabling physical separation and concentration without the need for organic solvent extraction.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional isolation procedures are used, then rhamnolipid purification is achieved, but process complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential separation function from complex conventional processes. Instead of using multi-step procedures involving organic solvents, filtration, and concentration equipment, the invention uses simple pH adjustment to precipitate rhamnolipids, which can be separated by basic decantation or filtration, dramatically simplifying the overall process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, complex purification equipment and materials with simple, inexpensive pH adjustment agents. The process uses readily available acids or bases to trigger precipitation, eliminating the need for costly organic solvents and complex separation equipment, making the process more economically viable.
3Quantity of substance
If autoclaving and acidification are used to precipitate rhamnolipids, then solid rhamnolipids are obtained, but contamination with cellular material increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary centrifugation or filtration of the fermentation broth before pH adjustment and precipitation. This preliminary removal of cellular material ensures that when rhamnolipids are precipitated by acidification, they are not contaminated with solid cellular debris, thereby maintaining high product purity while achieving effective precipitation.
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 produces a naturally derived, high-concentration rhamnolipid solution without chemical modification, significantly reducing production costs and minimizing impurities.
Implementation Method 1
acidifying to precipitate rhamnolipids out
Implementation Method 2
non-filtration based sterilization of said medium
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Provided are organic solvent free methods for obtaining compositions comprising one or more rhamnolipids as well as compositions obtainable from said methods.