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US 6,583,310 B1Granted
Direct esterification of ammonium salts of carboxylic acids
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorYuval Halpern
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Abstract
A non-catalytic process for producing esters, the process comprising reacting an ammonium salt of a carboxylic acid with an alcohol and removing ammonia from the reaction mixture. Selectivities for the desired ester product can exceed 95 percent.
Claims9
A non-catalytic process for producing ethyl lactate comprising:
- a) reacting an ammonium salt of lactic acid with ethanol in refluxing conditions to create a distillate;
- b) bubbling an inert gas selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, helium, argon, dry air or combinations thereof through the distillate to remove the ammonia, thereby reducing amide production;
- c) condensing the distillate on a temperature exchange surface maintained at a temperature of between approximately −100° C. and 200° C.;
- d) removing water during refluxing of the distillate by contacting the distillate with a drying agent;
- and
- collecting the ethyl lactate.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.