Cargill Inc.

Cargill Dow Polymers LLC

Cargill, Incorported

Csm Nv

Nature Work, Llp

John N Starr

Jeffrey John Kolstad

Betty Hazan

Patrick R Gruber

Aharon Eyal

David Roy Witzke

Rod R Fisher

Riki Canari

Vineet Rajgarhia

Ting Liu Carlson

Stacey Olson

Vassily Hatzimanikatis

Joseph Mizrahi

Xiangsheng Meng

Canari Riki

The invention provides methods and materials related to the production of lactic acid. Specifically, the invention provides methods for producing lactic acid using a crabtree-negative yeast, such as of theandgenera, which have been transformed with a lactate dehydrogenase gene.

Methods for the synthesis of lactic acid using crabtree-negative yeast transformed with the lactate dehydrogenase gene

The techniques for processing lactic acid/lactate salt mixtures are provided. Preferred mixtures for processing are obtained from fermentation broths, preferably from fermentation processes conducted at a pH of 4.8 or lower. The techniques generally concern the provision of separated lactic acid and lactate streams, from the mixtures. Preferred techniques of separation and processing of each of the streams are provided.

Lactic acid processing; methods; arrangements; and, products

The present disclosure provides a process for preparing a purified lactic acid solution suitable for use in connection with a source of lactate material a pH within the range of 0.8 to 9.0. The process includes the steps of providing a source of lactate material which includes a calcium salt; acidulating the concentrated broth with sulfuric acid to form an acidulated solution which includes lactic acid and calcium sulfate; reducing an amount of calcium sulfate from the acidulated solution; extracting the acidulated solution with an amine extractant to form a loaded solvent; and back extracting the loaded solvent with an aqueous solvent to provide a purified solution of lactic acid. Optionally, the source of lactate material can be concentrated prior to the step of acidulating. Alternately, the amine extractant can include sulfate anion. The sulfuric anion in the amine extractant can be residual sulfuric acid from the acidulation step. Alternately, the sulfuric acid in the amine extractant can be added during the extraction step, for example, as sulfuric acid.

Process for producing a purified lactic acid solution

Crabtree negative organisms such as Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Hansenula and Candida, are used to make selected organic products such as lactic acid. The organisms are cultured in a first culture medium that includes glucose, under conditions that promote cellular respiration. The organisms are then cultured under a second set of conditions that promote production of the selected organic product. The organisms preferably contain an exogenous lactate dehydrogenase gene.

Production of lactate using crabtree negative organisms in varying culture conditions

Lactic acid processing; methods; arrangements; and, product

Lactic acid processing methods arrangements and products

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Chaska, MN, United States of America

John N Starr