EP0145233A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Separation processfor a 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer
Assignee: Monsanto Co
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Filing: 1984-11-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-11-01
Abstract
Abstract An aqueous suspension of micro-organism cells containing a 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer are subjected to a proteolytic enzyme digestion and/or a surfactant digestion in order to solubilise cell material other than the 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer. Prior to, or during the digestion, but before any proteolytic enzyme digestion step, the suspension is heated to at least 80°C to denature nucleic acids which otherwise hinder separation of the 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer containing residue from the suspension.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Arthur Holmes
- 👤 Guan Boh Lim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:22
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/06; C12P; C12P7/00; C12P7/62; C12P7/625; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/822; Y10S435/829; Y10S435/874
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A process for the removal of non 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer cell material from micro-organism cells containing a 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer comprising digesting an aqueous suspension of said cells with at least one solublising agent whereby said non polymer cell material in said cells is solublised and then separating the insoluble residue containing the 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer from the suspension, characterised in that the digestion step includes one or more stages wherein the solubilising agent is a proteolytic enzyme composition and/or a surfactant and said suspension is heated to a temperature above 80°C before or during said digestion step and before any proteolytic enxyme digestion stage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A process for the removal of non 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer cell material from micro-organism cells containing a 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer comprising digesting an aqueous suspension of said cells with at least one solublising agent whereby said non polymer cell material in said cells is solublised and then separating the insoluble residue containing the 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer from the suspension, characterised in that the digestion step includes one or more stages wherein the solubilising agent is a proteolytic enzyme composition and/or a surfactant and said suspension is heated to a temperature above 80°C before or during said digestion step and before any proteolytic enxyme digestion stage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said digestion includes one or more stages wherein the solubilising agent is an enzyme composition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 2 wherein said digestion includes at least one stage wherein the solubilising agent is a proteolytic enzyme composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein the suspension is heated to a temperature of at least 100°C prior to the proteolytic enzyme digestion stage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
.5. A process according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the proteolytic enzyme composition is one that effects little or no solubilisation of peptidoglycan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the digestion includes at least one stage wherein the solubilising agent is a surfactant, the surfactant digestion being effected after digestion with the proteolytic enzymeo
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the digestion includes at least one stage wherein the solubilising agent is a phospholipase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the enzyme digestion is effected at a temperature below 80°C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
9 o A process according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the digestion includes at least one stage wherein the solubilising agent is a surfactant and the surfactant digestion is effected at a temperature of at least 80 C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein in at least one digestion stage the solubilising agent is a surfactant in admixture with ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein after the enzyme and/or surfactant digestion, the residue is treated with hydrogen peroxideo
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition comprising at least 90% by weight of a 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer and at least 1% by weight of peptidoglycano
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition comprising at least 90% by weight of a 3-hydroxybutyrate polymer and at least 1% by weight of peptidoglycano
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3107172A
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EP0015123A1
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