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EP0046335A2
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Extraction of poly(beta-hydroxybutyric acid)
Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1981-07-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-07-15
Abstract
Abstract Poly(β-hydroxybutyric acid), PHB, extraction from a bacterial cell suspension by heating to above 100°C under pressure, releasing the pressure, and separating PHB granules from the cell debris.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Arthur Holmes
- 👤 Eric Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:43
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12P; C12P7/00; C12P7/62; C12P7/625; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/06; C12N1/066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A process for the extraction of poly(B-hydroxybutyric acid), PHB, from an aqueous suspension of bacterial cells containing PHB comprising heating said suspension to a temperature exceeding 100°C under sufficient pressure to maintain said suspension in the liquid state, and then releasing the pressure on said heated suspension whereby a suspension containing cell debris and discrete granules of PHB is obtained, and then separating the granules of PBB from the cell debris.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process for the extraction of poly(B-hydroxybutyric acid), PHB, from an aqueous suspension of bacterial cells containing PHB comprising heating said suspension to a temperature exceeding 100°C under sufficient pressure to maintain said suspension in the liquid state, and then releasing the pressure on said heated suspension whereby a suspension containing cell debris and discrete granules of PHB is obtained, and then separating the granules of PBB from the cell debris.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the pressure is released by expelling the heated suspension under pressure through an orifice into a region of lower pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the suspension is heated to a temperature exceeding 150°C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the suspension is heated by injecting steam under pressure into the suspension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the suspension is heated by pumping the suspension under pressure through a heated zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the PEB granules are separated from the cell debris by application of an electrical field to the suspension after release of the pressure thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the PHB granules are separated from the cell debris gravimetrically.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the PHB granules are separated from the cell debris to give an aqueous suspension of PEB granules free of cell debris, and the PBB granules are then separated from the cell-debris-free aqueous medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein, before or after separation of the PHB granules from the cell debris, lipids associated with the PHB granules are dissolved by addition of a solvent, in which the lipids are soluble but in which PHB is insoluble, to the aqueous suspension containing the PEB granules.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein the PHB is separated from the cell-debris-free aqueous medium by spray or flash drying.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 10 in which lipids associated with the PEB are removed by extraction of the dried PHB with a solvent in which the lipids are soluble but in which PHB is insoluble.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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