US3669840A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gluconic acid production
Assignee: Ecolab Inc
•
Filing: 1969-11-25
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1989-11-25
Abstract
Abstract Gluconic acid is produced by a fermentation process in which an inoculum of the fungus Aspergillus niger is transferred to a first production medium containing a source of glucose at a time when the glucose oxidase activity of the inoculum is increasing at its maximum rate. The fungus mycelium can be separated from the production medium at harvest time and reused in successive production media without the need for added nutrients until such time as nutrients are needed to revive the glucose oxidase activity.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert J Hatcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:56
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12P; C12P7/00; C12P7/40; C12P7/58; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/911; Y10S435/913; Y10S435/917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
23 words
Improved processes of claim 1 wherein the harvest time is determined by reference to the glucose oxidase activity in the inoculated production medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
Improved processes of claim 1 wherein the time of transfer of the inoculum occurs within plus or minus 2 hours of the maximum rate of increase in glucose oxidase activity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Improved processes of claim 1 wherein the production medium contains corn syrup as a glucose source without added nutrients for fungal growth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
Improved processes of claim 4 wherein the fungus is American Type Culture Collection No. 12846 and the rate of increase in glucose oxidase activity of the inoculum at the time of transfer is not less than 80 percent of the maximum rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Improved processes of claim 4 wherein the fungus mycelium is separated from the first production medium after the production of gluconic acid and the mycelium is transferred to a second production medium for further production of gluconic acid, said second production medium also being without nutrients.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
Improved processes of claim 4 wherein: a. the fungus mycelium is separated from the first production medium after the production of gluconic acid; b. wherein the separated fungus mycelium is successively transferred from one production medium to another; and c. wherein the need for nutrients in each successive production medium is determined by reference to the glucose oxidase activity in the preceding production medium, the presence of said nutrients being avoided until such are needed to revive glucose oxidase activity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1726067A
Cited
US2651592A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |