Solvent exchange process
AssigneeEastman Chemical Company
InventorsNick Allen Collins, Steven Thomas Perri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for recovering an organic acid or a metal salt thereof includes contacting an alcoholic phase containing one or more organic acid(s) or metal salt(s) thereof with water under conditions effective to provide an aqueous phase containing a portion of the organic acid(s) or metal salt(s) thereof. The aqueous phase does not contain substantial amounts of the alcohol(s). This process can also include recovery of the organic acid(s) or metal salt(s) thereof from the aqueous phase.
Claims38
A process for recovering an organic acid or a metal salt from an alcoholic phase comprising:
- (a) providing an alcoholic phase comprising (i) at least one organic acid selected from the group consisting of ascorbic and erythorbic acids and mixtures thereof or metal salt(s) thereof and (ii) at least one alcohol, wherein the organic acid or metal salt(s) thereof are at least partially soluble in the at least one alcohol;
- (b) contacting the alcoholic phase with water under conditions effective to provide an aqueous phase containing at least a portion of the organic acid(s) or metal salt(s) thereof, which aqueous phase does not contain substantial amounts of the at least one alcohol, wherein the ratio of water:
- alcohol in the aqueous phase is from about 50:50 to 97:3 by weight;
- and
- (c) recovering at least a portion of the organic acid(s) or metal salt(s) thereof from the aqueous phase.
A process for producing ascorbic acid or a metal ascorbate from 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or a metal salt thereof comprises:
- a. esterification of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or a metal salt thereof in a solvent comprising at least one alcohol:
- b. converting the ester from step (a) to a metal ascorbate in the solvent;
- c. exchange of at least a portion of the at least one alcohol solvent with water so as to provide aqueous metal ascorbate, wherein the ratio of water:
- alcohol is from 50:50 to 97:3 by weight.
A process for producing ascorbic acid or a metal ascorbate from 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or a metal salt thereof, comprises:
- a. esterification of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or a metal salt thereof in a solvent comprising at least one alcohol;
- b. converting the ester from step (a) to a metal ascorbate in the solvent;
- c. displacement of the ascorbic acid from the metal ascorbate;
- d. exchange of at least a portion of the solvent of the at least one alcohol with water so as to provide aqueous ascorbic acid, wherein the ratio of water:alcohol is from 50:50 to 97:3 by weight;
- and
- e. separation of the ascorbic acid from the aqueous solvent.
A process for producing ascorbic acid or an alkali metal ascorbate from 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or an alkali metal salt thereof, comprises:
- a. esterification of 2-keto-L-gulonic or an alkali metal salt thereof in a solvent comprising at least one alcohol;
- b. converting the ester from step (a) to provide an alkali metal ascorbate in the solvent;
- c. displacement of the ascorbic acid from the alkali metal ascorbate;
- d. exchange of at least a portion of the at least one alcohol solvent with water so as to provide aqueous ascorbic acid, wherein the ratio of water:
- alcohol is from 50:50 to 97:3;
- and
- e. separation of the ascorbic acid from the aqueous solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.