Process for the production of erythorbic acid

Abstract

The invention provides a process for the recovery of erythorbic acid from an aqueous feed solution containing values of erythorbic acid at a concentration of less than 0.7 mol/kg, comprising adsorbing a major portion of said erythorbic acid with a solid phase adsorbent resin selected from resins carrying a pyridine function and resins of similar or weaker basicity; separating said erythorbic acid-containing resin from residual aqueous solution, and subjecting said erythorbic acid-containing resin to a desorbing operation with a neutral solvent at a temperature of at least 20.degree. C. higher than the temperature at which said adsorption is carried out, whereby there is obtained a solution of erythorbic acid in solvent in which the concentration of erythorbic acid is at least equal to its concentration in said aqueous feed solution.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.