Process for the separation of long chain amino acids and dibasic acids

A process for the separation of long chain amino acid, dibasic acid, short chain alkylamine, and alkanoic acid of the following structures:

• from at least two of them in an alkali hydroxide hydrolysis mixture in an aqueous solvent of the mixed amide derivatives of the following structures:
• wherein m is an integer from 0 to 10;
• n is an integer from 6 to 20;
• X is OR or NR1R2, wherein OR is OH, C1-C8 monohydric alcohol, or C1-C8 polyhydric alcohol, and R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or C1-C8 alkyl group;
• comprising:
• (1) cooling the hydrolysis solution to crystallize and to separate the alkali salt of long chain dibasic acid by means of solid-liquid separation to provide an aqueous solvent solution;
• (2) distilling the aqueous solvent solution of step (1) to recover the solvent and to recover alkylamine;
• and
• (3) cooling the residual solution of step (2) to precipitate and to separate the alkali salt of long chain amino acid by means of solid-liquid separation to provide a mother liquor comprising the alkali salt of alkanoic acid.