Extraction of amino acids from aqueous mixtures and quaternary ammonium salt intermediates produced therein

A process for the extraction of amino acids from aqueous solutions thereof comprising contacting said aqueous solution containing at least one amino acid not in its zwitterionic form, with a solution of a water-insoluble extractant in a water immiscible organic solvent which forms a separate orgainic phase from said aqueous solution, said contact taking place for a sufficient length of time to allow the amino acid to be extracted from the aqueous phase into said organic phase;

• separating said organic phase containing said amino acid from said aqueous phase and recovering said amino acids from said organic phase, said water insoluble extractant being
• a. A quaternary ammonium ion having the formula:
• ##STR17## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 individually are aliphatic hydrocarbon groups containing from about 1 to about 22 carbon atoms and where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 together have a minimum of 25 carbon atoms, and where at least three groups selected from the group consisting of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are at least a C4