The patent application relates to a method of producing a monomer component from a genetically modified polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biomass, wherein the biomass is heated in the presence of a catalyst to release a monomer component from the PHA.

Methods for obtaining a carboxylic acid product from a lactose-containing feedstock include contacting the lactose-containing feedstock and a first mixture of microorganisms in a first bioreactor under anaerobic conditions at a temperature of about 45 C. to about 55 C. and a pH of from about 4 to about 6 for a period of time such that lactic acid is formed; contacting the lactic acid with a second mixture of microorganisms in a second bioreactor under anaerobic conditions at a temperature of about 25 C. to about 35 C. and a pH of from about 4 to about 6 for a period of time such that the lactic acid is converted to one or more C.sub.3-C.sub.12 carboxylic acid products; and isolating the one or more C.sub.3-C.sub.12 carboxylic acid products. The lactose-containing feedstock has a pH greater than 4.5.

Methods for obtaining a carboxylic acid product from a lactose-containing feedstock include contacting the lactose-containing feedstock and a first mixture of microorganisms in a first bioreactor under anaerobic conditions at a temperature of about 45 C. to about 55 C. and a pH of from about 4 to about 6 for a period of time such that lactic acid is formed; contacting the lactic acid with a second mixture of microorganisms in a second bioreactor under anaerobic conditions at a temperature of about 25 C. to about 35 C. and a pH of from about 4 to about 6 for a period of time such that the lactic acid is converted to one or more C.sub.3-C.sub.12 carboxylic acid products; and isolating the one or more C.sub.3-C.sub.12 carboxylic acid products. The lactose-containing feedstock has a pH greater than 4.5.

A process for producing BTX and alcohols from biomass, comprising at least a) catalytic pyrolysis of said biomass in a fluidized-bed reactor producing a gaseous pyrolysis effluent; b) separation of said gaseous pyrolysis effluent into at least one BTX fraction and a gaseous effluent comprising at least carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, c) recycling at least part of said gaseous effluent comprising at least carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the reactor of said step a), d) purging said gaseous effluent recycled according to step c) to produce a purge effluent, e) sending at least part of said purge effluent from step d) into a fermentation step producing a liquid fermentation stream comprising at least one stream comprising at least one oxygenated compound chosen from alcohols, diols, acid alcohols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones and esters, alone or as a mixture.

A process for manufacturing purified glycerol including the steps of providing a starting glycerol fraction comprising glycerol, water, and fatty acid methyl esters, subjecting the glycerol fraction to a partial evaporation to form an evaporated fraction including glycerol, water, and fatty acid methyl esters, and a remainder fraction including glycerol, condensing the evaporated fraction to form a liquid, subjecting the liquid evaporated fraction including glycerol, water, and fatty acid methyl esters to a liquid-liquid separation step, resulting in the formation of a fatty acid methyl ester fraction and a glycerol-based fraction including glycerol and water. The process makes it possible to efficiently separate the fatty acid methyl esters from glycerol, without the need for complete glycerol distillation. Also provides glycerol fractions suitable for use as carbon source in fermentation processes, without problems in down-stream processing, and without the need for cost-intensive purification steps for the glycerol.

A process for manufacturing purified glycerol including the steps of providing a starting glycerol fraction comprising glycerol, water, and fatty acid methyl esters, subjecting the glycerol fraction to a partial evaporation to form an evaporated fraction including glycerol, water, and fatty acid methyl esters, and a remainder fraction including glycerol, condensing the evaporated fraction to form a liquid, subjecting the liquid evaporated fraction including glycerol, water, and fatty acid methyl esters to a liquid-liquid separation step, resulting in the formation of a fatty acid methyl ester fraction and a glycerol-based fraction including glycerol and water. The process makes it possible to efficiently separate the fatty acid methyl esters from glycerol, without the need for complete glycerol distillation. Also provides glycerol fractions suitable for use as carbon source in fermentation processes, without problems in down-stream processing, and without the need for cost-intensive purification steps for the glycerol.

The invention relates to a method for producing salts of butyric acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, valeric acid, acetic acid, glycolic acid, sorbic acid, fumaric acid, formic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, derivatives of said organic acids and mixtures thereof, comprising at least the successive steps of: i) culturing a microorganism in an appropriate culture medium comprising a carbon source and a nitrogen source, during a sufficient time to obtain a fermentation broth comprising the organic acid(s); ii) pre-treating said fermentation broth comprising at least clarification of the fermentation broth and separation of organic acids by evaporation of the clarified fermentation broth and then condensation of the volatile fraction containing organic acids (CVAF); v) adding inorganic C bases to said CVAFvii) eliminating the remaining water of the CVAF, and recovering the organic acid salts.

The invention relates to a method for producing salts of butyric acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, valeric acid, acetic acid, glycolic acid, sorbic acid, fumaric acid, formic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, derivatives of said organic acids and mixtures thereof, comprising at least the successive steps of: i) culturing a microorganism in an appropriate culture medium comprising a carbon source and a nitrogen source, during a sufficient time to obtain a fermentation broth comprising the organic acid(s); ii) pre-treating said fermentation broth comprising at least clarification of the fermentation broth and separation of organic acids by evaporation of the clarified fermentation broth and then condensation of the volatile fraction containing organic acids (CVAF); v) adding inorganic C bases to said CVAFvii) eliminating the remaining water of the CVAF, and recovering the organic acid salts.

The present invention relates to a method of producing propanol and/or propionic acid, the method comprising: (b) contacting at least one propionogen to carbon dioxide and to an aqueous medium comprising ethanol and acetate; wherein the acetate is maintained at a concentration of at least about 1 g/L in the aqueous medium.

The present invention relates to a method of producing propanol and/or propionic acid, the method comprising: (b) contacting at least one propionogen to carbon dioxide and to an aqueous medium comprising ethanol and acetate; wherein the acetate is maintained at a concentration of at least about 1 g/L in the aqueous medium.