	US 11,781,159 B2
	Formation and isolation of hydroxycarboxylic acids via a sophorolipid intermediate
Xiaozhou Zhang, Bridgewater, NJ (US); Zarath M Summers, High Bridge, NJ (US); Partha Nandi, Annandale, NJ (US); Mark P Hagemeister, Morris Plains, NJ (US); Jihad M Dakka, Whitehouse Station, NJ (US); Mohor Chatterjee, Annandale, NJ (US); and Vera Grankina, Union Dale, PA (US)
Assigned to ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Annandale, NJ (US)
Filed by ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Annandale, NJ (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/68,147.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/915,185, filed on Oct. 15, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0108235 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. C12P 7/42 (2006.01); C07C 51/377 (2006.01); C12P 19/02 (2006.01); C12P 19/14 (2006.01); C13K 1/00 (2006.01); C12N 1/16 (2006.01); C07C 51/367 (2006.01); C07C 59/01 (2006.01)

CPC C12P 7/42 (2013.01) [C07C 51/377 (2013.01); C12P 19/02 (2013.01); C12P 19/14 (2013.01); C13K 1/00 (2013.01)]

23 Claims

1. A method comprising:

biosynthesizing a hydroxycarboxylic acid in a cell culture medium comprising glucose by exposing a carbonaceous feedstock to a microorganism capable of forming at least one sophorolipid;

forming at least one sophorolipid from the hydroxycarboxylic acid and glucose within the cell culture medium;

separating the at least one sophorolipid from the cell culture medium; and after separating the at least one sophorolipid from the cell culture medium, hydrolyzing the at least one sophorolipid in an aqueous medium to form the hydroxycarboxylic acid and glucose as free components separate from the cell culture medium;

wherein the hydroxycarboxylic acid is present as a phase separate from the aqueous medium and the glucose remains in the aqueous medium, and

wherein the microorganism is a yeast and the yeast is genetically modified to produce methyltransferase.