Solenis Technologies, L.p.

Basf Se Corporation

Michael Guenter Braun

Juergen Daeuwel

Kai-Uwe Baldenius

Stephan Freyer

Matthias Kleiner

Peter Oedman

Michael Budde

Bjoern Langlotz

Michael Kiefer

Linda Garella

Hans-Juergen Lang

The present invention relates to a method for producing a polyacrylamide solution having increased viscosity. In particular, the present invention is related to the separation of a biocatalyst from an aqueous acrylamide solution prepared utilizing the biocatalyst prior to polymerization of the aqueous acrylamide solution to polyacrylamide. A polyacrylamide solution having increased viscosity is well suited to be used in tertiary oil recovery. Accordingly, the present application provides means and methods to crucially improve the quality of polyacrylamide solutions for use in tertiary oil recovery.

Process for producing a polyacrylamide solution with increased viscosity

The present invention relates to means and methods for producing an amide compound from a nitrile compound with less acrylic acid as by-product using a Nitrile hydratase (NHase) and Amidase producing microorganism as biocatalyst. Also provided is an aqueous amide compound obtained by the methods of the invention as well as a composition comprising acrylamide or polyacrylamide as well as a dried microorganism exhibiting a NHase/Amidase activity ratio of at least 400 when being brought into contact with a nitrile compound to convert said nitrile compound into an amide compound.

Method for producing an amide

The present invention relates to methods for preparing an aqueous acrylamide solution having a low acrylic acid concentration. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for reducing the acrylic acid concentration of an aqueous acrylamide solution. The methods involve a bioconversion of acrylonitrile to acrylamide in the presence of a biocatalyst, wherein during the bioconversion the content of acrylonitrile is maintained at 0.3 w/w % or more referred to the total weight of the composition in the reactor. Also provided is an aqueous acrylamide solution which is obtained by the methods of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention is related to an acrylamide homopolymer or copolymer obtained by polymerizing the acrylamide of the aqueous solution.

Method for preparing an aqueous acrylamide solution having a low acrylic acid concentration

Growing community of inventors

Ludwigshafen, Germany

Michael Guenter Braun