Michigan State University

Other

Working Bugs, LLC

Applied Carbo Chemicals Inc.

Michigan Biotechnology Institute

Diversified Natural Products, Inc.

Bioamber S.a.s.

Kris A Berglund

Dilum D Dunuwila

Hasan Alizadeh

Joel I Dulebohn

Beatrice A Torgerson

Sanjay K Yedur

Erik A Berglund

Adam Harant

David A Glassner

Peter K Rossman

Ponnampalam Elankovan

Qiuyue Yu

Charles Ngowe

Jacob Rochte

Parminder Agarwal

The disclosure relates to a reactive distillation method for beverage spirit production, the method comprising. An initial reaction mixture includes water, ethanol, and a carboxylic acid, for example having 3 or more carbon atoms. The reaction mixture is reactively distilled in the presence of an esterification catalyst to react a portion of the ethanol and the carboxylic acid to form an ethyl carboxylate reaction product, and form a distillation product or distillate including water, ethanol, and the ethyl carboxylate. The esterification catalyst is not present in the distillation product, for example when using a solid acid esterification catalyst in the reaction mixture. In a refinement, ethanol and the carboxylic acid can be co-fermented in an initial grain mixture, which is subsequently reactively distilled according to the disclosed method.

Reactive distillation in beverage spirit production

A composition that is a substitute for food grade sodium chloride includes crystalline particles containing both potassium chloride and lysine monohydrochloride such that the potassium chloride and lysine monohydrochloride are not susceptible to separation. A process for making the composition includes steps of providing a supersaturated water solution of potassium chloride and lysine monohydrochloride at a temperature of from about 10 to about 70&#xb0; C., adding ethanol to the solution in an amount sufficient to precipitate crystalline particles containing a combination of potassium chloride and lysine monohydrochloride, separating the crystalline particles from the solution, and drying the crystalline particles.

Sodium-free salt substitute

An improved process for extracting fusel alcohols and/or fusel alcohol esters from an ethanol fermentation product involves adding to the fermentation product an extractant solvent selected from amyl alcohols, amyl acetates, and mixtures thereof to produce a two-phase system including a water and alcohol phase, and an immiscible second phase comprised of amyl alcohols, amyl acetates or a mixture thereof. Thereafter, the first and second phases can be separated to obtain a first phase depleted of fusel alcohols and/or esters of fusel alcohols and a second phase containing fusel alcohols and/or esters of fusel alcohols extracted from the first phase.

Extraction of fusel alcohols from ethanol fermentation products

A process for producing alkali metal polymaleimide salts by alkaline hydrolysis of maleimide polymers prepared by polymerization of maleimide monomers in the presence of a metal oxide and alcohol initiator or a base. In particular, the process produces alkali metal polymaleimide salts with particular ratios of C&#x2014;N and C&#x2014;C connected maleimide-derived monomer units which are dependent on the particular initiator used to synthesize the maleimide polymer. The alkali metal polymaleimide salts, which have chelating and anti-scaling properties, are useful as chelating agents and detergent builders and as such are suitable biodegradable replacements for synthetic polymers and sodium polyaspartate.

Synthesis and applications of polymaleimide

A liquid antifreeze which is produced from renewable resources, and which is biodegradable, non-toxic, and is non-corrosive to engines is provided. The liquid antifreeze composition for use as an engine coolant in a dilute or concentrate form comprises a water soluble salt of succinic acid, a water soluble salt of acetic acid, ethanol, and water, wherein the composition has a freezing point of greater than &#x2212;30&#xb0; C. in the engine. A method for cooling an engine with a cooling system which comprises the coolant compositions is also provided.

Environmentally benign, non-toxic, non-corrosive engine coolant/antifreeze

A process of the preparation of a N,N-diamino amino acid-&bgr;-hydroxy-succinic acid as a N,N-diacid salt (I) is described. The process involves reacting epoxy succinic acid with an amino acid having two amino groups as an N-acid salt. The compounds are useful as chelators.

Process for the preparation of a N,N-diamino amino acid-&bgr;-hydroxy disuccinic acid

Deicing and anti-icing compositions comprising a succinate salt and at least one freezing point depressant selected from the group consisting of monohydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, monomethyl or monoethyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols, and mixtures thereof. The compositions have enhanced ice-melting capacity compared to the ice-melting capacity of the succinate salt or the alcohol alone, particularly at temperatures below about &minus;10&deg; C. The compositions are particularly useful as a windshield deicer/washer. Particular embodiments of the compositions are environmentally friendly.

Windshield washer and deicer

A composition which is a mixture of a hydroxylated carboxylic acid ester and a mono-, di- or tricarboxylic acid ester for solvating a nail polish lacquer for removal is described. Included are kits for compositions for and a method of using the compositions.

Nail polish lacquer remover

Deicing compositions are provided for removing ice from a surface which include either succinic acid or succinic anhydride, or both, and a neutralizing base such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or ammonium hydroxide wherein the deicing compositions when mixed with water produce succinate salts in a reaction that rapidly releases sufficient heat to melt the ice on the surface and the succinate salts act as a deicer and freezing point depressant. In particular embodiments, the deicing compositions further include a glycol which inhibits reformation of the ice on the deiced surface. The deicing compositions are suitable and effective for airport applications in which corrosion of aircraft alloys and concrete runways are of concern.

Water-activated, exothermic chemical deicing formulations

Improved deicing compositions and methods are provided. In particular, the subject invention is directed at deicing compositions which are suitable and effective for airport applications in which corrosion of magnesium based alloys is an issue. In particular, the invention is directed at deicing compositions which are less corrosive of steel and aluminum and certain magnesium based parts than conventional road salt. For example, the invention is directed to deicing compositions which are substantially less corrosive than allowed for use on aircraft metal parts, such as magnesium based alloys unlike acetate and formate salts. The subject invention is also directed at deicing compositions which inhibit the corrosive effects of conventional road salt. The subject invention is also directed at deicing compositions comprising effective deicing amounts of succinate salts, such as potassium succinate (trihydrate), ammonium succinate (anyhdrous), sodium succinate (hexahydrate), either alone or in combination. The subject invention is also directed at deicing compositions comprising effective corrosion inhibiting, deicing amounts of potassium succinate together with effective amounts of 1) polymaleimide sodium salt and magnesium succinate, 2) magnesium succinate and sodium polyaspartate, 3) sodium polysuccinimide, 4) sodium polyaspartate and polymaleimide sodium salt, 5) magnesium succinate or 6) sodium chloride which will enhance deicing and/or corrosion inhibiting properties.

Deicing compositions and methods of use

A highly efficient process for the production and recovery of pure succinic acid from a succinate salt that involves minimal use of additional reagents, and produces virtually no waste by-products, and permits internal recycle of the base and acid values, is provided. The method involves the formation of diammonium succinate, either by using an ammonium ion based material to maintain neutral8 pH in the fermenter or by substituting the ammonium cation for the cation of the succinate salt created in the fermenter. The diammonium succinate can then be reacted with a sulfate ion, such as by combining the diammonium succinate with ammonium bisulfate and/or sulfuric acid at sufficiently low pH to yield succinic acid and ammonium sulfate. The ammonium sulfate is advantageously cracked thermally into ammonia and ammonium bisulfate. The succinic acid can be purified with a methanol dissolution step. Various filtration, reflux and reutilization steps can also be employed.

Succinic acid production and purification

A physical mixture which consists essentially of compositions of lysine monohydrochloride and potassium chloride alone or admixed with small amounts of succinic acid, in particular weight ratios, and which has a salty taste comparable to table salt (sodium chloride). The mixture masks the bitter aftertaste of the potassium chloride and can provide dietary lysine which is an essential amino acid.

Composition and method for producing a salty taste

A method and test kit for the detection of hydroxy substituted aromatic compounds using a titanium film (12, 23) which reacts with the compound to change the light absorbance. Preferred films are prepared by reaction of a titanium alkoxide with an aliphatic carboxylic acid. The change in light absorbance of the film is preferably detected with an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. Preferably the film is provided on a transparent slide (22) or on an inside wall of a spectrophotometer cell (10). The cells (10 and 20) are provided with covers (13 and 14) for holding the solution to allow the hydroxy substituted compounds to react with the film.

Growing community of inventors

Okemos, MI, United States of America

Kris A Berglund