Orochem Technologies, Inc.

Deepak Sharma

Anil Rajaram Oroskar

David W House

Asha Anil Oroskar

Gautham Anil Oroskar

Rakesh Vikraman Nair Rema

Omkar M Kulkarni

Wahab Mahmood

Alice M Havill

Vanshidhar Singh

Anand Oroskar

Rahul K Keswani

Disclosed is a process for the production of high purity alpha-tocotrienol from palm oil extract. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for the separation of alpha-tocotrienol from a mixtures of other tocotrienols and tocopherols and the use of a simplified separation scheme based on a combination of solid phase extraction and simulated moving bed (SMB) separation steps employing polar phase simulated moving bed operation. The process is useful for providing a continuous route and a simplified processing route to providing pure alpha-tocotrienol as a major product essentially free of other tocotrienols and tocopherols including: beta-tocopherol, gamma-tocotrienol, delta-tocotrienol, gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol, front end and back end carotenoids, and alpha-tocopherol as a by-product from palm oil extract. Alpha-tocotrienol is a form of vitamin E and may be useful as a treatment for preventing stroke or reducing brain and nerve damage following a stroke.

Recovery of highly pure alpha-tocotrienol from crude palm oil extract

Disclosed is a process for the production of d-tagatose from lactose after acid hydrolysis to provide a hydrolysate having 1 equiv of d-glucose and 1 equiv of d-galactose for each unit of lactose converted. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for the isomerization of d-galactose to d-tagatose and the use of a simplified separation scheme based on simulated moving bed (SMB) separation. The isomerization of d-galactose to d-tagatose is carried out in the presence of calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. The process is useful for providing a simplified processing route to providing pure d-tagatose and glucose as two products from lactose hydrolysate. In an alternate embodiment, a process is disclosed for the production of d-tagatose from fermented lactose hydrolysate to provide a crystallized d-tagatose product. D-tagatose is useful as a food additive, as a sweetener, as a texturizer, as a stabilizer, or as a humectant.

Tagatose production using simulated moving bed separation

Disclosed is an improved SMB process incorporating novel regeneration steps for the separation of ethanol associated oxygenates such as butanediol from a dilute mixture of ethanol and associated oxygenates in water in the presence of organic compounds derived from a biofermentation process. Applicant discovered that increasing the number of raffinate streams alone or in combination with a hot regeneration zone within the SMB cycle can significantly reduce the capital and operating costs associated with the incorporation of the SMB process in a complex for the production of ethanol and butanediol from biofermentation effluent. The process is useful for removing water from dilute aqueous mixtures of organic compounds comprising ethanol in dilute concentration in water and produced by fermentation, biomass extraction, biocatalytic and enzymatic processes which are not economically recoverable by conventional distillation methods.

SMB process for the purification of ethanol and butanediol with integrated regeneration

Disclosed is a process and an adsorbent for the separation of ethanol associated oxygenates from a dilute mixture of ethanol and associated oxygenates in water in the presence of organic compounds derived from a biofermentation process. After pretreatment, the separation is carried out in a simulated moving bed adsorption system employing an stationary phase adsorbent comprising fluorinated carbon or modified C18 silica gel selective for the adsorption of ethanol and associated oxygenates, such as 2,3-butanediol, with a mobile phase desorbent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, and methyl tertiary butyl ether. The process is useful for removing water from dilute aqueous mixtures of organic compounds comprising ethanol in dilute concentration in water and produced by fermentation, biomass extraction, biocatalytic and enzymatic processes which are not economically recoverable by conventional distillation methods.

Process and adsorbent for separating ethanol and associated oxygenates from a biofermentation system

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Deepak Sharma