	US 11,691,941 B2
	Methods for producing alkyl hydroxyalkanoates
Timothy Walter Abraham, Minnetonka, MN (US); Anthony Louis Duran, Pella, IA (US); Stephen C. Edgar, Oskaloosa, IA (US); and Ravi R. Gokarn, Omaha, NE (US)
Assigned to CARGILL, INCORPORATED, Wayzata, MN (US)
Filed by CARGILL, INCORPORATED, Wayzata, MN (US)
Filed on May 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/663,126.
Application 17/663,126 is a continuation of application No. 16/917,014, filed on Jun. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,332,429.
Application 16/917,014 is a continuation of application No. 16/420,484, filed on May 23, 2019, granted, now 10,710,955, issued on Jul. 14, 2020.
Application 16/420,484 is a continuation of application No. 15/945,494, filed on Apr. 4, 2018, granted, now 10,301,249, issued on May 28, 2019.
Application 15/945,494 is a continuation of application No. 15/029,376, granted, now 9,944,586, issued on Apr. 17, 2018, previously published as PCT/US2014/061194, filed on Oct. 17, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/892,126, filed on Oct. 17, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2022/0267246 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C07C 67/08 (2006.01); C07C 67/03 (2006.01); C07C 67/54 (2006.01)

CPC C07C 67/08 (2013.01) [C07C 67/03 (2013.01); C07C 67/54 (2013.01)]

17 Claims

1. A method for producing ethyl lactate, comprising:

a) obtaining a hydroxyalkanoate containing composition, comprising:

(i) at least 40 percent by weight hydroxyalkanoate equivalents;

(ii) greater than 0 and less than 45 percent by weight free hydroxyalkanoates;

(iii) at least 1 percent by weight saccharide equivalents; and

(iv) less than 5 percent by weight water;

b) mixing ethanol in a molar ratio of from about 1.1 to 1.0 to about 10.0 to 1.0 of ethanol to hydroxyalkanoate equivalents present in the hydroxyalkanoate containing composition to obtain a first mixture;

c) heating the first mixture to form a reaction product;

d) distilling the reaction product and recovering ethyl lactate fraction comprising:

(i) at least 90 percent by weight ethyl lactate;

(ii) less than 1 percent by weight lactic acid;

(iii) less than 1 percent by weight water; and

(iv) less than 0.5 percent by weight saccharide equivalents.