The present invention relates to a method of extracting an aliphatic alcohol, preferably containing 5 to 16 carbon atoms, from an aqueous medium, the method comprising: (a) contacting the aliphatic alcohol in the aqueous medium with at least one extracting medium for a time sufficient to extract the aliphatic alcohol from the aqueous medium into the extracting medium, (b) separating the extracting medium with the extracted aliphatic alcohol from the aqueous medium wherein the extracting medium comprises: at least one trialkyl-phosphine-oxide, preferably trioctyl-phosphine-oxide, and optionally at least one alkane, and wherein the aliphatic alcohol is produced from a carbon source by contacting the carbon source with at least one microorganism capable of converting the carbon source to the aliphatic alcohol.

The invention provides a process for preparing an alcohol by hydrogenating an ester which is obtained by alkoxycarbonylating a C2 to C20 hydrocarbon having at least one multiple bond, preferably having at least one olefinic double bond, in which the homogeneous catalyst system used is separated from the product mixture by means of membrane separation. In a development of the present invention, the ester thus formed is converted to another ester by transesterification and then hydrogenated.

The invention provides a process for preparing an alcohol by hydrogenating an ester which is obtained by alkoxycarbonylating a C2 to C20 hydrocarbon having at least one multiple bond, preferably having at least one olefinic double bond, in which the homogeneous catalyst system used is separated from the product mixture by means of membrane separation. In a development of the present invention, the ester thus formed is converted to another ester by transesterification and then hydrogenated.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing p-menthane-3,8-diol, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

a. preparation of an aqueous solution comprising between 0.05% and 5% by mass, preferably between 0.05% and 2% by mass, preferentially between 0.05% and 1% by mass, even more preferentially between 0.05% and 0.5% by mass of an ammonium salt, the said ammonium salt being characterised in that it is selected from the group formed by an amino acid ammonium salt, and in particular an amino acid hydrochloride, a vitamin B ammonium salt, and in particular a vitamin B hydrochloride, an ammonium salt of an amino acid ester, and an ammonium salt of a vitamin B ester, or is defined by the following formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 represents a benzyl, optionally substituted, or R.sub.1 represents an alkyl, either linear or branched, optionally cyclical, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted, comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferentially from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 represent a hydrogen or a methyl group, and X represents a chlorine atom, bromine atom or an OR′ group, R′ being an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms,

b. adding of citronellal to the aqueous solution obtained in the step a), and obtaining a mixture;

c. stirring and heating of the mixture obtained in the step b);

d. decanting of the reaction medium obtained at the end of step c) and obtaining at least two phases; and

e. separation of the said at least two phases obtained in the step d), and obtaining at least one aqueous phase and at least one organic phase, the said organic phase comprising at least p-menthane-3,8-diol.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing p-menthane-3,8-diol, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

a. preparation of an aqueous solution comprising between 0.05% and 5% by mass, preferably between 0.05% and 2% by mass, preferentially between 0.05% and 1% by mass, even more preferentially between 0.05% and 0.5% by mass of an ammonium salt, the said ammonium salt being characterised in that it is selected from the group formed by an amino acid ammonium salt, and in particular an amino acid hydrochloride, a vitamin B ammonium salt, and in particular a vitamin B hydrochloride, an ammonium salt of an amino acid ester, and an ammonium salt of a vitamin B ester, or is defined by the following formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 represents a benzyl, optionally substituted, or R.sub.1 represents an alkyl, either linear or branched, optionally cyclical, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted, comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferentially from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 represent a hydrogen or a methyl group, and X represents a chlorine atom, bromine atom or an OR′ group, R′ being an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms,

b. adding of citronellal to the aqueous solution obtained in the step a), and obtaining a mixture;

c. stirring and heating of the mixture obtained in the step b);

d. decanting of the reaction medium obtained at the end of step c) and obtaining at least two phases; and

e. separation of the said at least two phases obtained in the step d), and obtaining at least one aqueous phase and at least one organic phase, the said organic phase comprising at least p-menthane-3,8-diol.

The invention relates to a process for treating an hydroalcoholic feedstock comprising ethanol and butanol in order to produce an ethanol-rich effluent, a water-rich effluent and a butanol-rich effluent, comprising a) a water-ethanol separation step comprising a distillation column fed with said hydroalcoholic feedstock and comprising at least 14 theoretical plates, a molar reflux ratio of less than or equal to 1.2, a side withdrawal in the butanol accumulation zone and two injections of recycled streams resulting from steps b) and c); b) a demixing step comprising a section for mixing the stream withdrawn in step a) and the fraction withdrawn in step c), and a decanting section, the heavy phase being recycled to the distillation column of step a); c) a butanol separation step comprising a distillation column fed with the light phase resulting from step b), comprising a side withdrawal of a water/butanol/ethanol fraction recycled to the mixing section of step b) and producing a butanol-rich effluent and an ethanol-water distillate which is recycled to the distillation column of step a). This process appears to be particularly advantageous for the treatment of the hydroalcoholic effluent from the Lebedev process.

The invention relates to a process for treating an hydroalcoholic feedstock comprising ethanol and butanol in order to produce an ethanol-rich effluent, a water-rich effluent and a butanol-rich effluent, comprising a) a water-ethanol separation step comprising a distillation column fed with said hydroalcoholic feedstock and comprising at least 14 theoretical plates, a molar reflux ratio of less than or equal to 1.2, a side withdrawal in the butanol accumulation zone and two injections of recycled streams resulting from steps b) and c); b) a demixing step comprising a section for mixing the stream withdrawn in step a) and the fraction withdrawn in step c), and a decanting section, the heavy phase being recycled to the distillation column of step a); c) a butanol separation step comprising a distillation column fed with the light phase resulting from step b), comprising a side withdrawal of a water/butanol/ethanol fraction recycled to the mixing section of step b) and producing a butanol-rich effluent and an ethanol-water distillate which is recycled to the distillation column of step a). This process appears to be particularly advantageous for the treatment of the hydroalcoholic effluent from the Lebedev process.

The invention relates to a process for treating an hydroalcoholic feedstock comprising ethanol and butanol in order to produce an ethanol-rich effluent, a water-rich effluent and a butanol-rich effluent, comprising a) a water-ethanol separation step comprising a distillation column fed with said hydroalcoholic feedstock and comprising at least 14 theoretical plates, a molar reflux ratio of less than or equal to 1.2, a side withdrawal in the butanol accumulation zone and two injections of recycled streams resulting from steps b) and c); b) a demixing step comprising a section for mixing the stream withdrawn in step a) and the fraction withdrawn in step c), and a decanting section, the heavy phase being recycled to the distillation column of step a); c) a butanol separation step comprising a distillation column fed with the light phase resulting from step b), comprising a side withdrawal of a water/butanol/ethanol fraction recycled to the mixing section of step b) and producing a butanol-rich effluent and an ethanol-water distillate which is recycled to the distillation column of step a). This process appears to be particularly advantageous for the treatment of the hydroalcoholic effluent from the Lebedev process.

The disclosure is directed to a method and a system for recovering at least one organic product from fermentation broth. The disclosure relates to the use of liquid-liquid extraction and/or distillation to recover at least one organic product from a fermentation broth. In an embodiment, the recovery of the product is completed in a manner that minimizes stress on the microbial biomass, such that it remains viable, at least in part, and may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, with minimal water extraction which results in increased efficiency in the fermentation process.

The disclosure is directed to a method and a system for recovering at least one organic product from fermentation broth. The disclosure relates to the use of liquid-liquid extraction and/or distillation to recover at least one organic product from a fermentation broth. In an embodiment, the recovery of the product is completed in a manner that minimizes stress on the microbial biomass, such that it remains viable, at least in part, and may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, with minimal water extraction which results in increased efficiency in the fermentation process.