Patent EP0136802A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0136802A2
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EP
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Industrial-scale process for the production of polyols by fermentation of sugars (1111111)
Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods North America
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Filing: 1984-08-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-08-22
Abstract
Abstract @ An industrial process for producing a polyol mixture containing glycol and erythritol comprises subjecting a sugar to aerobic fermentation using Moniliella tomentosa var. pollinis. The process also produces ribitol and the proportion of ribitol in the polyol mixture and the total polyol yield are increased by increasing the degree of aeration of the fermentation medium. The use of a higher oxygen transfer rate provides a means of optimising sugar conversion into the most economically attractive polyols.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Claude De Troostenbergh
- 👤 Bernard Léon Henri Marie Avalosse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:08
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12P; C12P7/00; C12P7/02; C12P7/04; C12P7/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
An industrial process for producing a polyol mixture comprising glycerol and erythritol by the aerobic fermentation of a suitable sugar by Moniliella tomentosa var. pollinis is characterised in that ribitol is also produced and that the proportion of ribitol in the polyol mixture and the total polyol yield are increased by increasing the degree of aeration of the fermentation medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
An industrial process for producing a polyol mixture comprising glycerol and erythritol by the aerobic fermentation of a suitable sugar by Moniliella tomentosa var. pollinis is characterised in that ribitol is also produced and that the proportion of ribitol in the polyol mixture and the total polyol yield are increased by increasing the degree of aeration of the fermentation medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to Claim 1 characterised in that the air or an oxygen/inert gas composition approximating to that of air is supplied at a rate of 0.1 to 1.5 litre/litre of fermentation medium/minute.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that cells of the Moniliella tomentosa var. pollinis are recycled from a previous fermentation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to Claim 3 characterised in that 5% to 100% of the cells from a previous fermentation are recycled to the process.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the sugar is dextrose.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the sugar is present in the fermentation broth at the beginning of the fermentation in an amount of between 20% and 45%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the pH at the beginning of the fermentation is adjusted to between 3 and 6, preferably between 4 and 5.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of any one of the preceding claims characterised in that Xanthan gum is present in an amount between 100 ppm and 500 ppm of the fermentation medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of any one of the preceding claims characterised in that a conventional antifoam agent is also added to the fermentation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A cell-free, polyol-containing culture broth obtained by fermenting a sugar with Moniliella tomentosa var. pollinis, removing the cells from tbe broth and optionally refining the broth,characterised in that the polyols contained therein consist solely of ribitol, glycerol and erythritol in the following proportions based on total polyols : ribitol, 1%-20%; glycerol, 5%-40%; the balance being erythritol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A cell-free, polyol-containing culture broth obtained by fermenting a sugar with Moniliella tomentosa var. pollinis, removing the cells from tbe broth and optionally refining the broth,characterised in that the polyols contained therein consist solely of ribitol, glycerol and erythritol in the following proportions based on total polyols : ribitol, 1%-20%; glycerol, 5%-40%; the balance being erythritol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A cell-free, polyol-containing culture broth obtained by fermenting a sugar with Moniliella tomentosa var. pollinis to form a polyol mixture rich in erythritol, removing the cells, refining and concentrating the broth, crystallising erythritol and removing the erythritol crystals therefrom, characterised in that the polyols contained in the liquor after the crystallisation comprise ribitol, glycerol and erythritol in the following proportions based on total polyols : ribitol, 5%-30%; glycerol, 30%-60%; the balance being erythritol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
A cell-free, polyol-containing culture broth obtained by fermenting a sugar with Moniliella tomentosa var. pollinis to form a polyol mixture rich in erythritol, removing the cells, refining and concentrating the broth, crystallising erythritol and removing the erythritol crystals therefrom, characterised in that the polyols contained in the liquor after the crystallisation comprise ribitol, glycerol and erythritol in the following proportions based on total polyols : ribitol, 5%-30%; glycerol, 30%-60%; the balance being erythritol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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