Crystal harvest from fermentation broth

Abstract

A method for producing a crystalline and/or amorphous metabolite suspension from a fermentation broth comprising treating the fermentation broth with one or more coagulants and/or one or more flocculants; and separating the biomass of the fermentation broth from the coagulated and/or flocculated fermentation broth by use of a separation equipment, whereby a crystalline and/or amorphous metabolite suspension is obtained.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A method for producing a crystalline and/or amorphous metabolite suspension from a fermentation broth comprising 
 (a) treating the fermentation broth with one or more salts and one or more polymers; and    (b) separating the fermentation broth, by use of a separation equipment, into a biomass fraction, a crystalline metabolite fraction, and a supematant fraction    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the metabolite is a protein.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the protein is an enzyme.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the enzyme is a protease, a lipase, a cellulase, an amylase or an oxidoreductase.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of Ca-, Mg- and Al-salts.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the polymer has a molecular weight in the range of from 20 Daltons to 500000 Daltons.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the polymer is a cationic or an anionic polymer.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the polymer is a polyamine or a polyacrylamid.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the separation equipment is selected from the group consisting of a centrifuge, a decanter, and a cyclone.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the centrifuge is a continuous sludge de-charging centrifuge.