Succinic Acid Production via Partial Electrodialysis Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in manufacturing succinic acid via fermentation is obtaining high purity while maintaining an economical process with low power consumption and minimal waste production, as existing methods often result in substantial yield loss and non-reusable by-products.
Innovation Solution
A process involving fermentation to produce magnesium succinate, followed by crystallization and salt exchange to create a monovalent succinate salt suitable for water-splitting electrodialysis, which converts the succinate salt to succinic acid with partial conversion and recycling of the succinate salt, minimizing waste and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If water-splitting electrodialysis is used to convert succinate salt to succinic acid, then high purity succinic acid is produced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial conversion in the electrodialysis process, converting only a portion of the succinate salt to succinic acid in each cycle. The unconverted succinate salt is recycled back to the electrodialysis unit, allowing the process to achieve high purity product while reducing overall power consumption compared to complete conversion methods.
2Productivity
If complete conversion of succinate salt to succinic acid is performed, then maximum yield is achieved, but substantial amounts of non-reusable by-products are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a recycling strategy where unconverted succinate salt from the electrodialysis process is recovered and fed back into the electrodialysis unit for further conversion. This circular approach maximizes succinic acid yield while minimizing waste generation, as the succinate salt is reused rather than discarded.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional electrodialysis is used without recycling, then process simplicity is maintained, but yield loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a continuous process where succinate salt that exits the electrodialysis unit without being fully converted is continuously recycled back into the system. This continuous recycling maintains high succinic acid yield without significantly complicating the process, as the same electrodialysis unit handles both initial conversion and recycling operations.
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 achieves high-yield, high-purity succinic acid production with low power consumption and minimal waste, ensuring the succinic acid is of high quality and suitable for various applications without generating substantial non-reusable components.
Implementation Method 1
Water-splitting electrodialysis in particular allows the direct conversion of the succinate salt into succinic acid and base. In this type of electrodialysis bipolar membranes are generally used to split water into H+ and OH− respectively
Implementation Method 2
separating the succinic acid from the succinate salt by crystallisation
Data Source
AI summary
A process for the preparation of butanediol includes providing an aqueous medium comprising magnesium succinate by fermentation of a carbohydrate source, in the presence of a magnesium base. The aqueous medium is processed wherein the magnesium succinate is treated with a monovalent base, prior to or after a crystallization step, to provide a magnesium base and an aqueous solution comprising a monovalent succinate salt. The concentration of the monovalent succinate salt is adusted to between 10 and 35 wt. %. The aqueous solution is subjected to water-splitting electrodialysis, to produce a first solution comprising monovalent base and a second solution comprising succinic acid and monovalent succinate salt, the electrodialysis causing conversion the monovalent succinate salt into succinic acid of 40 to 95 mole % calculated on a total molar amount of succinic acid and succinate present in solution. The second solution is separated into succinic acid and the monovalent succinate salt by crystallization. The monovalent scuccinate salt solution of step e) is recycled to step d) and the succinic acid is hydrogenated to form butanediol.