Process of separating components of a fermentation broth

Abstract

A process of isolating 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a fermentation broth includes separating a liquid fraction enriched in 1,4-BDO from a solid fraction comprising cells, removing water from said liquid fraction, removing salts from said liquid fraction, and purifying 1,4-BDO. A process for producing 1,4-BDO includes culturing a 1,4-BDO-producing microorganism in a fermentor for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,4-BDO. The 1,4-BDO-producing microorganism includes a microorganism having a 1,4-BDO pathway having one or more exogenous genes encoding a 1,4-BDO pathway enzyme and/or one or more gene disruptions. The process for producing 1,4-BDO further includes isolating 1,4-BDO.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A process of isolating 1,4-BDO from a fermentation broth comprising removing a portion of solids by disc stack centrifugation to provide a liquid fraction, removing a further portion of solids from the liquid fraction by ultrafiltration, removing a portion of salts from the liquid fraction by nanofiltration, removing a further portion of salts from the liquid fraction by ion exchange, evaporating a portion of water, and distilling 1,4-BDO. 
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein the step of removing a further portion of salts by ion exchange comprises passing the liquid fraction through an ion exchange column selected from the group consisting of a cation exchange column, an anion exchange column, a mixed-bed ion exchange column, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein the step of evaporating a portion of water comprises passing the liquid fraction through an evaporator system, said evaporator system comprising an effect selected from the group consisting of a falling film evaporator, a short path falling film evaporator, a forced circulation evaporator, a plate evaporator, a circulation evaporator, a fluidized bed evaporator, a rising film evaporator, a counterflow-trickle evaporator, a stirrer evaporator, a spiral tube evaporator, and combinations thereof, said evaporator system optionally comprising a recompression system comprising a recompressor selected from the group consisting of a thermal recompressor, a mechanical recompressor, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled)