Methyl fermentation

The fermentative fixing of CO2 and water to acetic acid by a species of acetobacterium has been patented acetyl coen2yme A is the primary reduction product (62). Different species of clostridia have also been used. Pseudomonads (63) have been patented for the fermentation of certain compounds and their derivatives, eg, methyl formate. These methods have been reviewed (64). The manufacture of acetic acid from CO2 and its dewatering and refining to glacial acid has been discussed (65,66). 

Capacity Limitations and Biofuels Markets. Large biofuels markets exist (130—133), eg, production of fermentation ethanol for use as a gasoline extender (see Alcohol fuels). Even with existing (1987) and planned additions to ethanol plant capacities, less than 10% of gasoline sales could be satisfied with ethanol—gasoline blends of 10 vol % ethanol the maximum volumetric displacement of gasoline possible is about 1%. The same condition apphes to methanol and alcohol derivatives, ie, methyl-/-butyl ether [1634-04-4] and ethyl-/-butyl ether. 

Biacetyl is produced by the dehydrogenation of 2,3-butanediol with a copper catalyst (290,291). Prior to the availabiUty of 2,3-butanediol, biacetyl was prepared by the nitrosation of methyl ethyl ketone and the hydrolysis of the resultant oxime. Other commercial routes include passing vinylacetylene into a solution of mercuric sulfate in sulfuric acid and decomposing the insoluble product with dilute hydrochloric acid (292), by the reaction of acetal with formaldehyde (293), by the acid-cataly2ed condensation of 1-hydroxyacetone with formaldehyde (294), and by fermentation of lactic acid bacterium (295—297). Acetoin [513-86-0] (3-hydroxy-2-butanone) is also coproduced in lactic acid fermentation. 

Fusel Oils. The original source of amyl alcohols was from fusel oil which is a by-product of the ethyl alcohol fermentation industry. Refined amyl alcohol from this source, after chemical treatment and distillation, contains about 85% 3-methyl-1-butanol and about 15% 2-methyl-1-butanol, both primary amyl alcohols. Only minor quantities of amyl alcohol are suppHed from this source today. A German patent discloses a distillative separation process for recovering 3-methyl-1-butanol from fusel oil (93). 

Amines or amides Alkyl amines (iindecyloctyl and diamyl methyl amine) polyamides (acyl derivatives of piperazine) Boiler foam sewage foam fermentation dye baths... 

Nature produces a tremendous amount of methyl aleohol, simply by the fermentation of wood, grass, and other materials made to some degree of eellulose. In faet, methyl aleohol is known as wood aleohol, along with names sueh as wood spirits and methanol (its proper name the proper names of all aleohols end in -ol). Methyl aleohol is a eolorless liquid with a eharaeteristie aleohol odor. It has a flash point of 54°F, and is highly toxie. It has too many eommereial uses to list here, but among them are as a denaturant for ethyl alcohol (the addition of the toxie ehemieal methyl aleohol to ethyl aleohol in order to form denatured aleohol), antifreezes, gasoline additives, and solvents. No further substitution of hydroxyl radieals is performed on methyl aleohol. 

Ch nical DesignationsIsobutanol Isopropylcarbinol 2-methyl-1-propanol Fermentation butyl alcohol Chemical Formula (CH3)2CHCH20H. 

A selected strain o1 Streptomyces halstedii was cultivated in an aqueous nutrient medium under aerobic conditions and the resulting broth containing carbomycin antibiotics was filtered. The solutions was extracted twice at pH 6.5 with one-quarter volume of methyl isobutyl ketone. The combined extracts were concentrated to one-tenth volume under vacuum, and the antibiotics were extracted into water adjusted to a pH of about 2 with sulfuric acid. After adjusting the separated aqueous solution to pH 6.5, the antibiotic was extracted into benzene and the solution was concentrated to a small volume. Addition of hexane resulted in the separation of a solid product containing the benzene complexes of carbomycin A and carbomycin B, present in the fermentation broth. 

The course of the fermentation is tested by removal of samples, which are extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone. The extract is analyzed by paper chromatography in a system of dioxane toluene/propylene glycol. 

After the end of the fermentation (28 hours) the culture broth is filtered off by suction over a large suction filter. The mycel residue is washed with water several times. The filtrate is extracted three times, each time with 10 liters of methyl isobutyl ketone. The extract is concentrated under vacuum in a circulating evaporator and in a round flask carefully dried under vacuum. The residue is crystallized from acetone/isopropyl ether. The melting point is 157°-158°C (fermentation yield = 60%). The pure product yield obtained after a second crystallization and chromatography of the mother liquor on silica gel amounts to 53% of the theoretical. 

A subclass of lyases, involved in amino acid metabolism, utilizes pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP, 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-[(phosphonooxy)methyl]-4-pyridinecarbaldehyde) as a cofactor for imine/ enamine-type activation. These enzymes are not only an alternative to standard fermentation technology, but also offer a potential entry to nonnatural amino acids. Serine hydroxymethyl-tansferase (SHMT EC 2.1.2.1.) combines glycine as the donor with (tetrahydrofolate activated) formaldehyde to L-serine in an economic yield40, but will also accept a range of other aldehydes to provide /i-hydroxy-a-amino acids with a high degree of both absolute and relative stereochemical control in favor of the L-erythro isomers41. 

Choi and Won (1999) have reported a very u.seful strategy of recovering relatively nonvolatile lactic acid (e.g. from fermentation of carbohydrates) as volatile methyl lactate using a cationic ion-exchange resin as the catalyst. In another column reactor the methyl lactate is hydrolysed, using a cationic ion-exchange resin as the catalyst, to lactic acid and methanol, and the latter is recycled. 

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