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Title Study of the sequential conversion of citric to itaconic to methacrylic acid in near-critical and supercritical water
Creator/Author Carlsson, M. ; Habenicht, C. ; Kam, L.C. ; Antal, M.J. Jr. (Univ. of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI (United States)) ; Bian, N. ; Cunningham, R.J. ; Jones, M. Jr. (Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Chemistry)
Publication Date1994 Aug 01
OSTI IdentifierOSTI ID: 7162308
Other Number(s)ISSN0888-5885; CODEN: IECRED
Resource TypeJournal Article
Resource RelationIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research ; Vol/Issue: 33:8; DOE Project
Subject099000 -- Biomass Fuels-- Products & By-Products-- (1990-); CITRIC ACID-- HYDROLYSIS;ITACONIC ACID-- DECARBOXYLATION;ITACONIC ACID-- SYNTHESIS;METHACRYLIC ACID-- SYNTHESIS; BY-PRODUCTS;SUPERCRITICAL STATE
Related SubjectCARBOXYLIC ACIDS;CHEMICAL REACTIONS;DECOMPOSITION;DICARBOXYLIC ACIDS;HYDROXY ACIDS;LYSIS;MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS;ORGANIC ACIDS;ORGANIC COMPOUNDS;SOLVOLYSIS
Description/Abstract Between 200 and 400 million lb of citric acid are produced annually in the USA by fermentation of molasses and other sugars using the microorganism Aspergillus niger.^A lesser quantity of itaconic acid is manufactured by a similar technology using Aspergillus terreus.^The recovery of citric acid from its fermentation broth via calcium salt precipitation is a costly, highly complex, sophisticated operation.^USDOE estimates the cost of dry citric acid produced from a new plant to be about $0.59/lb, whereas the estimated cost of wet citric acid (in its fermentation broth) from a new plant is about $0.19/lb and from an old plant is about $0.15/lb.^Citric acid rapidly reacts in hot (250 C), compressed (34.5 MPa) liquid water to form itaconic and citraconic acids with a combined selectivity that exceeds 90%.^At higher temperatures (360 C), in the absence and presence of NaOH, itaconic acid decarboxylates to form methacrylic acid.^The yield of methacrylic acid depends on the temperature, pH, and buffer strength of the medium, reaching a maximum of about 70% (by mole) of the itaconic acid feed.^Conditions which favor the production of methacrylic acid also lead to the formation of its hydration product: hydroxyisobutyric acid.^Under optimum conditions the combined yield of methacrylic acid and hydroxyisobutyric acid from itaconic acid exceeds 80%.^Results are consistent with well-established dehydration and decarboxylation mechanisms.
Country of PublicationUnited States
LanguageEnglish
FormatPages: 1989-1996
System Entry Date2001 May 13

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