Development of Low-Cost Manufacturing Process for 1,2,4-Butanetriol (BT)
Abstract
The objective of this Phase I project was to demonstrate the feasibility of producing 1 ,2,4-butanetriol from malic acid via microbial reduction of the carboxylic groups with Clostridium thermoaceticum. Unfortunately, this objective was not met. A small amount of 1,2,4-butanetriol was produced. However, the project time was over before the correct process parameters were found to produce 1 ,2,4-butanetriol in a yield sufficient to evaluate the process. The microbial reduction process parameters are very dependent on the carboxylic acid being reduced, especially for the dicarboxylic acids. The correct combination of pH, reaction time, reaction temperature, microbe concentration, microbe age, reactant concentration, buffer type and concentration, mediator, and pressure must be found. Due to problems with analysis of 1 ,2,4-butanetriol and malic acid in an aqueous buffer solution and problems with the viability of the original microbes purchased, insufficient time remained on the project to optimize all these parameters. Two substrates, butyric acid and succinic acid, were used as model compounds for initial process optimization. Reduction of these acids to the corresponding alcohols was accomplished in our laboratory and compared to published literature results. Even with minimal optimization of the experimental parameters, we obtained befter yields that those reported in the literature. %A%nr%%%%1 r%Aii%;%% c'f %%r%nvvl;r %r%A% i% %;%%% ni%IinA fnr ni%I'in% %1rnbn1% t1i%t
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA398024