| CPC C12P 7/44 (2013.01) [A23K 20/158 (2016.05); A23L 3/3517 (2013.01); A23L 33/12 (2016.08); C12N 1/20 (2013.01); C12P 7/52 (2013.01); A23V 2002/00 (2013.01)] | 17 Claims |
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1. A process for producing products containing carboxylic acid salts from a biodegradable feedstock, the process comprising:
fermenting the biodegradable feedstock using a natural consortia of microorganisms to produce a first product stream comprising the carboxylic acid salts, suspended solids, and water, wherein the carboxylic acid salts comprise C2-C5 short-chain fatty acid salts, C6-C9 medium-chain fatty acid salts, or a combination of C2-C5 short-chain fatty acid salts and C6-C9 medium-chain fatty acid salts;
removing the suspended solids from the first product stream to produce a second product stream comprising the carboxylic acid salts and water;
concentrating the second product stream by removing a portion of the water from the second product stream to produce a third product stream and water, wherein the third product stream is sufficiently concentrated to cause crystallization of at least a portion of the carboxylic acid salts contained therein;
recovering the crystallized carboxylic acid salts from the solution as they form, wherein the salts still remaining in solution after the separation of the crystallized carboxylic acid salts form a fourth stream comprising fractionated carboxylic acid salts;
recycling at least a portion of the fourth product stream to the fermenting step; and
drying at least a portion of the recovered crystallized carboxylic acid salts to remove water and produce a fifth product stream comprising dry carboxylic acid salts.
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