JPS5947597B2 - Equipment for producing volatile oxygenated hydrocarbons using fermentation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the titled hydrocarbon without danger of explosion, by feeding oxygen to a fermentation liquid in a separate fermenting chamber, dissolving the oxygen in the liquid, mixing the liquid with a fermentation liquid to which a raw material hydrocarbon is fed in a separate fermenting chamber circularly. CONSTITUTION:A fermentation liquid fed into a fermenting chamber A is made to flow into fermenting chambers B and C via communicating pipes 9 and 7, and the fermentation liquid is circulated through the chamber A via communicating pipes 10 and 8. Oxygen or a gas containing the oxygen necessary for the fermentation is fed from a feed part 4 to the chamber C and dissolved in the fermentation liquid. On the other hand, a raw material hydrocarbon is fed from a feed part 6 to the fermentation liquid in the chamber B. A volatile hydrocarbon containing the oxygen thus produced in the chamber A is accompanied by an inert gas fed via a dispersing plate 2 of a feed part 1 and taken out of an outlet part 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing oxygenated hydrocarbons by fermentation using light hydrocarbons as a substrate and using microorganisms.

Recently, propylene oxide, 2-epoxybutane, etc., has been produced using a so-called fermentation method, in which α-olefins, which are light hydrocarbons such as propylene, 1-butene, and 1-pentene, are used as substrates and microorganisms capable of producing epoxides are applied thereto. , 1,2-epoxypentane and other oxygen-containing hydrocarbons have been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11297/1983).

” - The method for producing oxygenated hydrocarbons using the fermentation method described above has the advantage of easily producing oxygenated hydrocarbons such as propylene oxide, which has optical activity, whereas conventional chemical synthesis methods tend to require complicated reaction steps. By selecting microorganisms, it is also possible to produce oxygenated hydrocarbons from acetylenic hydrocarbons.

However, there are almost no reports on attempts to industrially produce oxygenated hydrocarbons using fermentation methods.

The problem in industrial production with this fermentation method is that the fermentation must be carried out under aerobic conditions, so the oxygen or air introduced into the fermentation system mixes with light hydrocarbons as raw material substrates. There is a risk that the mixing ratio will be in the explosive range, and there is also a risk that the oxygenated hydrocarbons produced and accumulated in the fermentation system will mix with the oxygen or air and become in the explosive range.

Note that the accumulation of oxygenated hydrocarbons in the fermentation system also causes inhibition of the oxidation reaction of the raw material hydrocarbons.

That is, from the viewpoint of manufacturing equipment, there is a strong demand for measures to avoid the explosion and the accumulation of the fermentation products in the system.

One possible solution to this problem is to perform fermentation in batches, but this method requires high-pressure equipment to increase the concentration of hydrocarbons in the culture medium (fermentation liquid) when using gas or volatile raw material substrates. Therefore, it is not economically advantageous, and it also has the disadvantage that continuous operation is not possible.

The present invention addresses the above-mentioned current situation and provides a method for producing oxygenated hydrocarbons from light hydrocarbons by fermentation, even in a continuous manner without the risk of explosion. The purpose is to provide manufacturing equipment that can obtain

The present invention will be explained in detail below.

The apparatus of the invention consists of at least three fermentation chambers, which contain means for supplying an inert gas to the fermentation liquor and a means for discharging the oxygenated hydrocarbons produced in the fermentation liquor. A fermentation chamber equipped with a means for removing the inert gas from the system, a fermentation chamber equipped with a means for supplying oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas to the fermentation liquor, and supplying light hydrocarbons to the fermentation liquor. The fermentation chamber is characterized in that the fermentation chambers are in communication with each other so that the fermentation liquid therein is circulated mutually or sequentially.

The apparatus of the present invention is constructed as described above, and the oxygen necessary for fermentation is supplied and dissolved in the fermentation liquor in an independent fermentation chamber, and then mixed with the fermentation liquor to which the raw material hydrocarbons were supplied in the same independent fermentation chamber. Since they are mixed cyclically, the raw material hydrocarbon and oxygen are not directly mixed together as in the case where the raw material hydrocarbon and oxygen are supplied in one fermentation chamber.

Therefore, according to the apparatus of the present invention, there is no danger of explosion as described above during operation.

Further, the oxygenated hydrocarbons produced by fermentation are taken out of the system from a take-out part provided in a part of the independent fermentation chamber equipped with the above-mentioned inert gas supply means, accompanied by the inert gas. Therefore, no accumulation of the above-mentioned oxygen-containing hydrocarbons is observed within the system, and therefore the fermentation reaction is not inhibited by it.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, since the oxygen necessary for fermentation is separately supplied to the fermentation chamber within the system, there is no risk of mixing with the fermentation product and causing an explosion.

The mode of communication between the fermentation chambers in the present invention is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of actual operation, the mode of communication shown in the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings described later is preferable.

In addition, in the apparatus of the present invention, a dispersion plate for the gas is provided in the fermentation chamber equipped with an inert gas supply means to uniformly disperse the gas, thereby discharging the oxygen-containing hydrocarbons in the fermentation liquid in the chamber to the outside of the system. It is possible to facilitate the extraction and also to provide a stirrer in the fermentation chamber equipped with oxygen supply means and the fermentation chamber equipped with feedstock hydrocarbon supply means to dissolve oxygen in the fermentation liquid and Dispersion or dissolution of hydrocarbons into the fermentation liquid can be facilitated.

By arranging the fermentation chamber for supplying raw material hydrocarbons to the fermentation liquor independently in this way, it is possible to circulate the fermentation liquor with a high concentration of hydrocarbons within the system. In addition to preventing the accumulation of hydrocarbons, the production of oxygenated hydrocarbons can be improved.

In the present invention, each fermentation chamber may be provided with a supply or removal port for the fermentation liquid or culture components to appropriately manage the fermentation state.
Furthermore, when carrying out the present invention, means for adding an acid solution or alkaline solution for adjusting the pH of the fermentation liquid as needed, means for adding an antifoaming agent for defoaming the foaming observed during the fermentation period, and furthermore, Means required for normal fermentation operations, such as means for measuring the temperature and pH of the fermentation liquid and dissolved oxygen concentration in the fermentation liquid, other means for killing insects, and means for sterilizing raw materials, can be provided.

The apparatus of the present invention can be used to process hydrocarbons that are gaseous at room temperature or liquid hydrocarbons that easily vaporize, such as methane and ethane.

Ethylene, acetylene, propane, propylene.

Phantane', Isophthane, Phutane'-1. Light hydrocarbons such as phytene-2-isobutene, butadiene, pentane, isopentane, pentene-1, and pentene-2,2-methylbutene can be advantageously applied to the production of corresponding oxygen-containing hydrocarbons as raw material substrates.

In addition, oxygen-containing hydrocarbons are compounds in which oxygen atoms are added or substituted to the raw material hydrocarbons listed in List L, and are generally compounds having functional groups such as carbon, aldehyde, alcohol, oxide, and carboxylic acid. It includes gases that are easily vaporized at room temperature and that can be taken out of the system together with the inert gas supplied to the fermentation liquid.

The inert gas used herein includes gases that do not substantially affect the fermentation according to the present invention, such as nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, methane, and ethane.

Note that the fermentation liquid here refers to a medium containing light hydrocarbons as a main component as the raw material substrate, to which microorganisms having the ability to oxidize the hydrocarbons and produce oxygenated hydrocarbons are added. .

Since the apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, the raw material hydrocarbon and oxygen do not come into direct contact and mix, and the oxygen-containing hydrocarbon produced in the fermentation chamber where fermentation is mainly performed is not accumulated, so
When the apparatus of the present invention is used, there is no risk of explosion as described above, and fermentation proceeds without being inhibited, so that oxygenated hydrocarbons can be produced safely and continuously.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure and operation of the present invention will be specifically explained below based on the accompanying drawings which illustrate the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates an apparatus consisting of three fermentation chambers.

In the figure, A, B and C are fermentation chambers, and fermentation chamber A
The fermentation chamber B has an inert gas supply section (tubular shape) 1 at the bottom and an oxygenated hydrocarbon outlet 3 at the top, and the fermentation chamber B has a feedstock hydrocarbon supply section 6 and an agitator 1 at the top.
1, and the fermentation chamber C is equipped with an oxygen (or oxygen-containing substance) supply section 4 and a stirrer 11 in the upper part.

In the figure, 5 indicates an exhaust gas outlet provided in the second part of the fermentation chamber C.

-1- The fermentation chambers A and B are communicated by communication pipes 9 and 10, so that the fermentation liquid in each fermentation chamber is mutually circulated.

Further, the fermentation chambers A and C are communicated with each other by communication pipes 7 and 8, so that the fermentation liquid in each chamber is mutually circulated.

Note that 2 in the figure is a dispersion plate installed in the fermentation chamber A, and the dispersion plate 2 disperses the inert gas supplied to the chamber to remove oxygenated hydrocarbons from the surface of the fermentation liquid. It serves to facilitate the extraction of

The operation of the above-mentioned apparatus is carried out by charging the fermentation liquid into the fermentation chamber A and passing the fermentation liquid through the pipes 9 and 7 to the chambers B and 7 by providing ventilation equipment, pumps, or valves in the communication pipes between the respective chambers. The fermentation liquors in chambers B and C flow into chamber A via pipes 1o and 8, thereby circulating the fermentation liquor within the apparatus system.

In this operation, oxygen necessary for fermentation is supplied from chamber C to the fermentation liquor and dissolved therein, and raw material hydrocarbons are supplied from chamber B to the fermentation liquor.

Further, oxygenated hydrocarbons produced as the fermentation progresses are taken out from the upper part of chamber A along with the inert gas supplied to chamber A.

Note that the oxygen-containing hydrocarbons taken out of the system from chamber A contain unreacted hydrocarbons, inert gas, and, in some cases, trace amounts of oxygen, so they can be absorbed, adsorbed, or cooled by means such as absorption, adsorption, or cooling. is applied to separate oxygenated hydrocarbons.

This separated gas can be circulated to the fermentation chamber A as an inert gas after further removing unreacted hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and oxygen.

Generally, the activity of the fermentation liquor gradually decreases during operation, so it is advisable to provide means for replenishing new fermentation liquor in one of the fermentation chambers, for example, in chamber B.

In addition, it is also possible to provide an outlet for extracting the fermentation liquid whose activity has decreased.

In addition, in the case of fermentation with a slow reaction rate, it is also possible to arrange a separate culture cypress or create a retention area for the fermentation liquid in the lower part of the fermentation chamber A to adjust the circulation of the fermentation liquid within the system. It is.

Figure 2 shows an example of an apparatus consisting of five fermentation chambers, including A1. B1. Br, C1 and Dl indicate fermentation chambers, and chambers B1 and B1' have inert gas supply ports E, E' at the bottom and outlet F for oxygenated hydrocarbons entrained in the inert gas at the top. .

It is equipped with F'.

In addition, the chamber C1 has a supply port G for oxygen or oxygen-containing gas at the bottom.
The chamber D1 is equipped with an exhaust gas outlet [''H in the upper part, and a supply port for raw material hydrocarbons in the lower part and an outlet J for hydrocarbons not dissolved in the fermentation liquid in the upper part. Hydrocarbons discharged from the supply port (2) are circulated to the above-mentioned supply port (2).

Each room A1. B, Bi, C1 and Dl are tubes 11
', 12', 13, 14, 15 and 16 are connected sequentially, and the fermentation liquid charged in chamber A1 is connected to
1' and 14 respectively into chambers B1 and Bi, the fermentation liquors of chambers B1 and B1 flow through tubes 12' and 15 respectively into chambers C1 and Dl, and the fermentation liquors of chambers C1 and Dl flow into the tubes The fermentation liquid within the apparatus system is sequentially circulated, flowing into chamber A1 via 13 and 16.

Note that the figure shows a stirrer provided in the fermentation chamber A1.

The operation and operation of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 and the functions of each fermentation chamber are similar to those illustrated in FIG. 1.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are schematic diagrams illustrating the apparatus of the present invention. In Fig. 1, A, B, C... fermentation chamber, 1... inert gas supply section, 2... quantity distribution plate, 3... intermediate oxygen hydrocarbon extraction section. , 4...
Oxygen (or oxygen-containing gas) supply section, 5... Exhaust gas outlet, 6... Raw material hydrocarbon supply section, 7, 8.
...Communication pipe between fermentation chambers A and C, 9.10...
・Communication pipe between fermentation chambers A and B, 11.12... Stirrer. Figure 2 i:, l'l) T, A1. B,, B1',
C,, Dl・----Fermentation chamber, E, E'・・・・・
・Inert gas supply section, F, F'...Oxygenated hydrocarbon extraction section, G・Curve・Oxygen (or oxygen-containing gas)
Supply section, H... Curved oxygen-containing gas discharge section, ■...
Raw material hydrocarbon supply section, J... Raw material hydrocarbon discharge section, 1
1', 14... Fermentation chambers A, B1 and B
]' Which communicating pipe, 12'...Fermentation chamber B1 and cl
15...Communication pipe between fermentation chamber B]' and Dl, 13...Communication pipe between curved fermentation chamber c1 and fermentation chamber A1, 16
...Communication pipe between fermentation chamber D1 and fermentation chamber A1.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An apparatus for producing volatile oxygenated hydrocarbons by a fermentation method using light hydrocarbons as a substrate, comprising at least 3
consisting of individual fermentation chambers, each of which is in communication with the other so that the fermentation liquor therein circulates mutually or sequentially;
A fermentation chamber equipped with a means for supplying an inert gas to the fermentation liquid and a means for taking out the oxygenated hydrocarbons produced in the fermentation liquid together with the inert gas, oxygen or oxygen. An apparatus as described above, characterized in that it consists of at least a fermentation chamber with means for supplying contained gases to the fermentation liquor and a fermentation chamber equipped with means for supplying light hydrocarbons to the fermentation liquor. 2. A first fermentation chamber equipped with a means for supplying an inert gas to the fermentation liquid and a means for taking out the oxygenated hydrocarbons produced in the fermentation liquid together with the inert gas, A second fermentation chamber provided with means for supplying oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas to the fermentation liquor and a third fermentation chamber provided with means for supplying light hydrocarbons to the fermentation liquor. Claims characterized in that the liquid flows into the second chamber and the third chamber, and the fermentation liquid in the second and third chambers respectively flows into the first chamber and communicate with each other so as to circulate. The device according to item 1. 3 The first fermentation chamber was equipped with a means for supplying an inert gas to the fermentation liquid and a means for taking out the oxygenated hydrocarbons produced in the fermentation liquid together with the inert gas. Two fermentation chambers (second). (Third) Binding The fermentation liquid in the first chamber is transferred to the second and third chambers.
They communicate with each other as though they flow into each other.''-Note No. 2
One of the chambers and the third chamber is in communication with a fourth fermentation chamber provided with means for supplying oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas to the fermentation liquid such that the fermentation liquid flows into the fourth chamber, and the other is a fifth unit provided with means for supplying light hydrocarbons to the fermentation liquor;
The fermentation chamber and the fermentation liquid thereof are in communication with each other so as to flow into the fifth chamber, and the fourth and fifth chambers are each in communication with the first chamber such that their fermentation liquids are flowing into the fifth chamber. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fermentation liquid in each of the chambers is arranged so as to circulate in sequence.