Process for producing amino acids from precursors obtained by anaerobic fermentation from fermentable biomass
Inventors
NOUAILLE, Régis • PESSIOT, Jérémy • THIEULIN, Marie
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-9701619-B2
Publication Date
2017-07-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
The process for producing amino acids from volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules, referred to as precursors, produced by anaerobic fermentation from fermentable biomass, comprises at least the following steps: a) extracting the volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules, without stopping the fermentation, via an extraction means chosen from means that are, at least, insoluble in the fermentation medium,b) collecting, outside the fermentation reactor, the volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules once they have been extracted,c) synthesizing, by halogenation, using a type of volatile fatty acid (VFA) chosen from the volatile fatty acids collected in step b) and defined according to the desired type of amino acid, a given α-halo acid,d) synthesizing from this α-halo acid a defined amino acid.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a process for producing amino acids from volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules produced by anaerobic fermentation from fermentable biomass. The process includes extracting the VFA molecules without stopping the fermentation, using an extraction means chosen from means that are at least insoluble in the fermentation medium, and collecting the extracted VFA molecules outside the fermentation reactor.
The process further includes synthesizing, by halogenation, an α-halo acid using a type of VFA chosen from the volatile fatty acids collected outside the reactor and defined according to the desired type of amino acid. During this halogenation step, an anhydride corresponding to the volatile fatty acid to be halogenated is used.
Finally, a defined amino acid is synthesized from the α-halo acid. The integrated sequence is supported by the use of α-halo acid formation from selected VFA mixtures and conversion of the resulting α-halo acids to amino acids by ammonolysis/aminolysis, with coproducts identified as imino diacids and/or nitrilo triacids.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim defining an integrated process for producing amino acids from anaerobically produced VFA precursors, with four main inventive features. Dependent claims refine halogenation reagent selection and add coproduct options.
Integrated extraction of VFA precursors without stopping fermentation
Extracting the volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules, without stopping the fermentation, via an extraction means chosen from means that are at least insoluble in the fermentation medium, and collecting the volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules outside the fermentation reactor once extracted.
Halogenation using a selected collected VFA and corresponding anhydride
Synthesizing, by halogenation, using a type of volatile fatty acid (VFA) chosen from the volatile fatty acids collected and defined according to the desired type of amino acid, a given α-halo acid, wherein during the halogenation step an anhydride corresponding to the volatile fatty acid (VFA) to be halogenated is used.
Amino-acid synthesis from the α-halo acid
Synthesizing from this α-halo acid a defined amino acid.
Optional coproduct formation as amino diacids and/or nitrilo triacids
During the amino-acid synthesis step, synthesizing at least one coproduct that is defined as an amino diacid and/or a nitrilo triacid.
Specific halogenation reagent selection for α-halo acid formation
During the halogenation step, using dibromine as the halo compound or, alternatively, using a halo compound not being dibromine.
Across the independent claim, amino-acid production is based on extracting VFAs without stopping anaerobic fermentation and collecting them outside the reactor, halogenating a selected collected VFA to form the corresponding α-halo acid using an anhydride corresponding to the VFA being halogenated, and converting the α-halo acid to a defined amino acid; dependent claims additionally specify halogenation reagent choice and optionally include coproducts characterized as amino diacids and/or nitrilo triacids.
Stated Advantages
Continuous precursor supply while preserving microorganism activity by extracting VFAs without stopping fermentation.
Reduced metabolite accumulation/acidification by preventing VFA buildup in the fermentation medium.
Improved controllability and amino-acid diversity by selecting the type of collected VFA according to the desired type of amino acid.
Documented Applications
Producing defined amino acids from VFAs generated by anaerobic fermentation of fermentable biomass.
Using VFA mixtures corresponding to selected carbon chain lengths (C2/C3/C4/C6) to form α-halo acids and subsequently produce amino acids via ammonolysis/aminolysis.
Interested in licensing this patent?