Title of Invention

PREPARATION OF D-PANTOTHENIC ACID AND/OR SALTS THEREOF AS ADDITIVE TO ANIMAL FEEDSTUFFS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for preparing D-pantothenic acid and/or salts thereof which comprises a) using at least one microorganism which produces D-pantothenic acid and in which the biosynthesis of pan- tothenic acid (pan) and/or isoleucine/valine (ilv) is deregulated and which forms at least 2 gil of salts of D-pantothenic acid by fermentation in a culture medium,. 0 -20 gil of free β-alanine and/or β-alanine salt being supplied to the culture medium, b) passing the D-pantothenate-comprising fermentation solution through one or more ion-selective membrane (s) by applying an electric field, low-molecular-weight ions being removed from the D-pantothenate-containing solution, c) adding a calcium base and/or magnesium base to set the free D-pantothenic acid comprised in the solution to a pH of 3-10, a solution being obtained which contains calcium and/or magnesium pantothenate and d) subjecting the calcium pantothenate- and/or magnesium pantothenate-comprising solution to ' drying and/or formulation.

Full Text

We claim: 1. A process for preparing D-pantothenic acid and/or salts thereof which comprises a) using at least one organism which produces D-pantothenic acid and in which the biosynthesis of pantothenic acid (pan) and/or isoleucine/valine (ilv) is deregulated and which forms at least 2 g/1 of salts of D-pantothenic acid by fermentation in a culture medium, 0 - 20 g/1 of free p-alanine and/or P-alanine salt being supplied to the culture medium, b) passing the D-pantothenate-containing fermentation solution through one or more ion-selective membrane(s) by applying an electric field, low-molecular-weight ions being removed from the D-pantothenate-containing solution, c) adding a calcium base and/or magnesium base to set the free D-pantothenic acid contained in the solution to a pH of 3-10, a solution being obtained which contains calcium and/or magnesium pantothenate and d) subjecting the calcium pantothenate-and/or magnesium pantothenate-containing solution to drying and/or formulation. 2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein no free p-alanine and/or p-alanine salt is fed to the culture medium. 3. A process as claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the D-pantothenic-acid-preducing organism used is a bacterium, a yeast or a fungus. 4. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the microorganism used is a bacterium from the Bacillaceae family. 5. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a bacterium of the genus Bacillus and preferably the species B. subtils, B. licheniformis or B. amyloliquefaciens, is used. 6. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, in step a) a content of D-pantothenic acid and/or salts thereof of at least 10 g/1 of culture medium, preferably at least 20 g/1, particularly preferably at least 40 g/1 and very highly preferably at least 60 g/1 of culture medium is formed. 7. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, in step c), the pH of the solution is set to 5-10. 8. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, in step c), the pH of the solution is set to 5-9, preferably 6-9, and particularly preferably 6-8. 9. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, in step b), monopolar and/or bipolar ion-exchange membranes are used. 10. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, in step b) , monopolar ion-exchange membranes are used. 11. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, in step b), monoselective ion-exchange membranes are used. 12. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the pH of the D-pantothenic-acid-containing fermentation solution, before the treatment in step b) , is set to the isoelectric pH of D-pantothenic acid. 13. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, in step b) , current densities of 1-100 mA/cm2, preferably 10-80 mA/cm2 and particularly preferably 20-40 mA/cm2, are set for monopolar ion-exchange membranes - 14. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, in step b), current densities of 1-150 mA/cm2, preferably 30-100 mA/cm2 and particularly preferably 70-90 mA/cm2, are set for bipolar ion-exchange membranes. 15. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein, in step b) , the content of monovalent cations, preferably ammonium, potassium and/or sodium ions, is reduced to a concentration of 16. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein, for neutralization, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and/or basic magnesium carbonate is added in the form of a solid and/or as aqueous suspension to the solution in step c). 17. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein an aqueous suspension comprising 2-55% by weight, preferably 10-50% by weight, and particularly preferably 20-40% by weight, of calcium hydroxide is added to the solution in step c) . 18. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein an aqueous suspension comprising 2-65% by weight, preferably 10-50% by weight, and particularly preferably 20-40% by weight, of calcium carbonate is added to the solution in step c) . 19. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein an aqueous suspension comprising. 20-60% by weight, preferably 10-50% by weight, and particularly preferably 20-40% by weight, of magnesium hydroxide is added to the solution in step c). 20. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein an aqueous suspension comprising 2-25% by weight, preferably 10-20% by weight, of basic magnesium carbonate is added to the solution in step c). 21. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein, in step c) or d), a suspension is obtained or charged which contains calcium pantothenate and/or magnesium pantothenate. 22. A composition for the use as animal feed additive and/or animal feed supplement, wherein it can be prepared by a) using at least one organism which produces D-pantothenic acid and in which the biosynthesis of pantothenic acid (pan) and/or isoleucine/valine (ilv) is deregulated and which forms at least 2 g/1 of salts of D-pantothenic acid by fermentation in a culture medium, 0-20 g/1, preferably 0 g/1, of free p-alanine and/or β-alanine salt being supplied to the culture medium. b) passing the D-pantothenate-containing fermentation solution through one or more ion-selective membrane(s) by applying an electric field, low-molecular-weight ions being removed from the D-pantothenate-containing solution, c) adding a calcium base and/or magnesium base to set the free D-pantothenic acid con tainted in the solution to a pH of 3-10, a solution being obtained which contains calcium and/or magnesium pantothenate and d) subjecting the calcium pantothenate- and/or magnesium pantothenate-containing solution to drying and/or formulation. 23. A composition as claimed in claim 22, wherein in step c) or d) , a suspension is obtained or is present which contains calcium pantothenate and/or magnesium pantothenate. 24. A composition as claimed in either of claims 22 and 23 which comprises D-pantothenic acid salts in the form of divalent cations, preferably calcium D-pantothenate and/or magnesium D-pantothenate. 25. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 24 which comprises D-pantothenic acid salts at a concentration of at least 1-100% by weight, preferably at least 20-100% by weight, and particularly preferably at least 50% by weight. 26. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein the content of D-pantothenic acid salts in the form of monovalent cations is 27. A process for preparing D-pantothenic acid and/or salts thereof substantially as herein described and exemplified. 28. A composition substantially as herein described and exemplified. Dated this 21 day of August 2003

Documents:

1315-chenp-2003 abstract-granded.pdf

1315-chenp-2003 claims-granded.pdf

1315-chenp-2003 description (complete)-granded.pdf

1315-chenp-2003-claims.pdf

1315-chenp-2003-correspondnece-others.pdf

1315-chenp-2003-correspondnece-po.pdf

1315-chenp-2003-description(complete).pdf

1315-chenp-2003-form 1.pdf

1315-chenp-2003-form 18.pdf

1315-chenp-2003-form 3.pdf

1315-chenp-2003-form 5.pdf

1315-chenp-2003-pct.pdf