Process for manufacturing lactic acid

A process for the preparation of lactic acid comprising the:

• a) providing an aqueous medium comprising magnesium lactate;
• b) adding to the aqueous medium comprising magnesium lactate a monovalent base to form an aqueous medium comprising a water soluble monovalent lactate salt and a solid magnesium base;
• c) separating the magnesium base from the aqueous medium comprising the water soluble monovalent lactate salt;
• d) adjusting the concentration of the monovalent lactate salt in the aqueous medium to a value between 10 and 30 wt. %,
• e) subjecting the aqueous medium comprising the monovalent lactate salt to water-splitting electrodialysis, to produce a first solution comprising monovalent base and a second solution comprising lactic acid and monovalent lactate salt, the electrodialysis being carried out to a partial conversion of 40 to 98 mole %;
• f) separating the second solution comprising lactic acid and monovalent lactate salt into lactic acid and a solution comprising the monovalent lactate salt by vapour-liquid separation;
• g) recycling the solution of step f) comprising the monovalent lactate salt to step d).