Evonik Degussa Gmbh

Degussa Aktiengesellschaft

Dieter Buss

Hans Joachim Hasselbach

Martin Koerfer

Stephan Kretz

Martin Steurenthaler

Michael R Rinner

Klaus Huthmacher

Christoph Weckbecker

Caspar-Heinrich Finkeldei

Pablo Zacchi

Martin Hateley

Thomas Haas

Thomas Tacke

Horst Weigel

Ralf Goedecke

Christoph Kobler

Benjamin Fonfe

Hans-Joachim Hasselbach

Olivier Zehnacker

Axel Ronneburg

Martin Körfer

Alexander Schraven

Thomas Häussner

Joachim Hans Hasselbach

Thomas Hauhlner

Ron Stockfleth

Jürgen Stock

Gundolf Hornung

Martin K&ouml;rfer

A method to produce D,L-Methionine from 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butyronitrile by reaction with ammonia, optionally in the presence of carbon dioxide, is provided. The 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butyronitrile is obtained by reaction of 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a base as catalyst in a main reaction zone of a multizone reactor. Residual gaseous hydrogen cyanide is removed from the main reaction zone to an absorption and post-reaction zone of the reactor which comprises a mixture of 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde and the catalyst; and the gaseous hydrogen cyanide is further reacted with the 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde in the absorption and post reaction zone. A molar ratio of hydrogen cyanide to 3-(methylthio)propanal in the main reaction zone is from 0.98 to 1.03.

Method for the production of D,L-methionine

A method for the production of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid by hydrolysis of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butyronitrile is provided. 3-Methylmercaptopropionaldehyde is reacted with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a base as catalyst in a main reaction zone of the multizone reactor to form a reaction mixture comprising the 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butyronitrile, unreacted 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde, the catalyst and residual amounts of gaseous hydrogen cyanide. The residual gaseous hydrogen cyanide is removed from the main reaction zone to an absorption and post-reaction zone of the reactor which comprises a mixture of 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde and the catalyst; and the gaseous hydrogen cyanide is further reacted with the 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde in the absorption and post reaction zone. A molar ratio of hydrogen cyanide to 3-(methylthio)propanal in the main reaction zone is from 0.98 to 1.03.

Method for the production of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butyronitrile from 3-(methylthio)propanal and hydrogen cyanide

The invention relates to an improved method for releasing an organic acid, preferably a carbon, sulfone or phosphone acid, particularly an alpha or beta hydroxycarbon acid, from the ammonia salt thereof by releasing and removing ammoniac and simultaneous extraction of the released acid, having an amine as a suitable extraction means from the aqueous phase. This method corresponds to a reactive extraction. The reactive extraction of an organic acid from the aqueous ammonia salt solution thereof can be significantly improved by the use of a strip medium or carrier gas, such as nitrogen, air, water vapor or inert gases such as argon. The released ammoniac is removed from the aqueous solution by the continuous gas flow and can be resupplied into a production process. The free acid can be obtained by a method such as distillation, rectification, crystallization, reextraction, chromatography, adsorption or by a membrane method from the extraction means.

Method for producing a free acid from the salt thereof

A method for the production of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butyronitrile having good storage stability in a multi-zone reactor, is provided. 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde is reacted with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a base as catalyst in a main reaction zone of the multizone reactor to form a reaction mixture comprising the 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butyronitrile, unreacted 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde, the catalyst and residual amounts of gaseous hydrogen cyanide. The residual gaseous hydrogen cyanide is removed from the main reaction zone to an absorption and post-reaction zone of the reactor which comprises a mixture of 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde and the catalyst; and the gaseous hydrogen cyanide is further reacted with the 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde in the absorption and post reaction zone. A molar ratio of hydrogen cyanide to 3-(methylthio)propanal in the main reaction zone is from 0.98 to 1.03.

A storage stable mixture containing 86 to 97% by weight of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyronitrile, 2 to 14% by weight of water, 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of HCN and having a pH of 1 to 4, measured using a pH electrode at 23&#xb0; C. is provided. A method to produce the storage stable mixture and its use in manufacture of DL-methionine or 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid is also provided.

Storage-stable 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butyronitrile

The present invention relates to a sequence for the preparation of amino acids, for example alpha amino acids, in particular methionine, by making use of an amidocarbonylation reaction and reuse of the catalyst.

Process for preparing amino acids using amidocarbonylation reaction

The present invention relates to a sequence for the preparation of amino acids, for example alpha-amino acids, in particular methionine, by making use of an amidocarbonylation reaction in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl catalyst and separating the catalyst in the form of a Co(N-amino acid)compound.

Process for preparing amino acids using the amidocarbonylation reaction

The present invention is directed to an improved process for producing methionine in which the by-product methionyl-methionine is quickly converted to the product methionine by a hydrolysis reaction. The process is performed at high temperatures (200&#xb0; C. to 280&#xb0; C.) and short residence times (20 s to 200 s) and results in an improved yield of end product methionine.

Process for producing methionine

A process for the preparation of &agr;-amino acids by hydrolysis of hydantoins in the presence of water and at least one metallic oxide under conditions such that all the starting materials are completely dissolved in the water as a result of high pressure and high temperature and only one further phase is present in the reactor in addition to the metallic oxide phase.

Process for the preparation of alpha-amino acids by hydrolysis of hydantoins at elevated pressure and elevated temperature

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Aschaffenburg, Germany

Dieter Buss