Enantiomeric enrichment of l-lactic acid or salt thereof

A process for enriching L-lactic acid enantiomer or salt thereof or for producing enantiomerically enriched L-lactate salt, the process comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining decomposed organic waste comprising an enantiomeric mixture of D- and L-lactic acid at a concentration of about 100 to about 1,100 g/L, wherein the enantiomeric mixture comprises 10% D-lactic acid or less;
• (b) contacting the enantiomeric mixture with an alkaline substance comprising divalent cations in an amount of about 50 to about 120 equivalent % based on the number of carboxyl groups present in the enantiomeric mixture;
• and
• (c) precipitating L-lactate salt with said divalent cations thereby obtaining L-lactate salt with enriched enantiomeric purity as compared to the initial enantiomeric mixture,
• wherein step (b) and/or (c) are performed at a temperature in the range of about 40° C. to about 100° C.

A process for enriching L-lactic acid enantiomer or salt thereof or for producing enantiomerically enriched L-lactate salt, the process comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining decomposed organic waste comprising an enantiomeric mixture of D- and L-lactic acid at a concentration of about 100 to about 1,100 g/L, wherein the enantiomeric mixture comprises 6% D-lactic acid or less;
• (b) contacting the enantiomeric mixture with an alkaline substance comprising divalent cations;
• and
• (c) precipitating L-lactate salt with said divalent cations thereby obtaining L-lactate salt with enriched enantiomeric purity as compared to the initial enantiomeric mixture,
• wherein step (b) and/or (c) are performed at a temperature in the range of about 50° C. to about 100° C.