Monsanto Technology LLC

Monsanto Company

Henry H Chien

Bruce F Monzyk

Eduardo Aurelio Casanova

Eric A Haupfear

Nicholas M Martyak

William B Hooper

Kenneth S Meyer

Juan Pedro Arhancet

Jerald D Heise

Michael Rogers

Mark A Leiber

William A Scholle

Amy L Jorgenson

Karen A Wittler, Legal Representative

An improved process for recovering a crystalline product (particularly an N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine product) from a solution comprising both a product subject to crystallization and undesired impurities is provided.

Process for recovering a crystalline product from solution

This invention generally relates to liquid phase oxidation processes for making N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (also known in the agricultural chemical industry as glyphosate) and related compounds. This invention, for example, particularly relates to processes wherein an N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid (NPMIDA) substrate (i.e., N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid, a salt of N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid, or an ester of N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid) is continuously oxidized to form an N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine product (i.e., N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, a salt of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, or an ester of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine). This invention also, for example, particularly relates to processes wherein an N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid substrate is oxidized to form an N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine product, which, in turn, is crystallized (at least in part) in an adiabatic crystallizer.

Reaction systems for making N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine compounds

Apparatus and methods for removing formate ions from electroless metal plating baths employing formaldehyde as a reducing agent and typically comprising polyvalent anions as metal chelant and/or counterion. The apparatus and methods employ anion filtration to separate polyvalent anions from monovalent formate ions and ion exchange units to remove metal and metal chelant species from formate-containing streams. Preferred aspects of this invention provide apparatus and methods for removing formate from electroless copper plating baths.

Methods and apparatus for treating electroless plating baths

Sulfate-free electroless copper baths comprising cupric ions, formaldehyde, formate ions, hydroxyl ions, a copper counterion, e g. preferably a monovalent anion such as acetate, nitrate or formate, and copper chelant such as an alkali metal salt of aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid), biscarboxymethylaspartic acid, ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid), diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonic acid), gluconic acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, mucic acid, D-saccharac acid, tartaric acid and N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine are amenable to the recovery of copper, e.g. from purge streams, using the methods and apparatus including solvent extraction, e.g. employing hydroxamic acid extractants, anion filtration, ion-exchange and chelant precipitation.

Sulfate-free electroless copper plating baths

Apparatus and methods for removing polyvalent by-product anions, e.g. borate and orthophosphate ions, from electroless metal plating baths employing borane or hypophosphite reducing agents and typically comprising monovalent anions or neutral zwitterions as metal chelant and/or counterion. The apparatus and methods of this invention employ (a) solvent extraction to remove metal species for recycle, (b) anion filtration to separate polyvalent anions from neutral zwitterions and monovalent anions and (c) ion exchange units to remove metal and metal chelant species from polyvalent anion-containing waste streams.

Apparatus and methods for treating electroless plating baths

Aqueous electroless nickel plating solutions comprising a water soluble nickel salt associated with a neutral zwitterion, e.g. alanine or glycine, and/or monovalent anion, e.g. lactate, nitrate, hypophosphite, acetate, sulfamate, hydrochloride, formate, propionate, trichloroacetate, trifluoroacetate, methanesulfonate, glycolate, aspartate or pyruvate, as counterion and chelant, a neutral, e.g. borate, or monovalent, e.g. hypophosphite, reducing agent, and a non-thiourea stabilizer, e.g. protonated dimethylamine or dimethylaminopropylamine or 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid. Valuable components of spent baths, e.g. nickel and neutral or monovalent anion species, can be advantageously recycled by employing solvent extraction and anion filtration operations.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Henry H Chien