Abstract:
A process is described for producing organic acids such as lactic acid. The process includes the steps of producing lactic acid by fermentation, resulting in an aqueous fermentation broth containing lactic acid, and adding a calcium base, such as calcium carbonate, to the fermentation broth, thereby producing calcium lactate in the broth. Biomass is removed from the broth, thereby leaving an aqueous solution or dispersion of calcium lactate. The calcium lactate is reacted with a source of ammonium ions, such as ammonium carbonate, or a mixture of ammonia and carbon dioxide, thereby producing an ammonium lactate. Contaminating cations can be removed by ion exchange. The free lactic acid or a derivative thereof can be separated from the ammonium ions, preferably by salt-splitting electrodialysis.
Abstract:
A process for producing an ester comprises the steps of: (a) feeding to a first vessel a feed that comprises organic acid, alcohol, and water, whereby organic acid and alcohol react to form monomeric ester and water, and whereby a first liquid effluent is produced that comprises as its components at least some ester, alcohol, and water, the components of the first liquid effluent being substantially in reaction equilibrium; and (b) feeding the first liquid effluent to a second vessel, whereby a vapor product stream and a second liquid effluent stream are produced, the vapour stream comprising ester, alcohol, and water, wherein the second vessel is maintained substantially at vapor-liquid equilibrium but not substantially at reaction equilibrium.
Abstract:
The invention provides an indirect acidulation process for producing glutamic acid from an aqueous feed containing glutamate resulting from fermentation, comprising the steps of a) contacting said aqueous feed stream at an elevated temperature with a weak acid cation exchanger (WACE) which is at least partially in its acid form whereby part of the cations in the solution is taken up by the cation exchanger and protons are introduced into the solution; b) contacting a second aqueous feed containing glutamate and cations at an elevated temperature with a strong acid cation exchanger (SACE) that is obtained from a subsequent step and carries cationic glutamate, whereby the cationic glutamate is transferred into the solution and most of the cations in the second aqueous feed are taken up by the SACE; c) crystallizing glutamic acid from the effluent of step (b); d) contacting the mother liquor of step (c) with SACE which is at least partially in its acid form whereby cationic glutamate is bound; e) utilizing the SACE obtained in step (d) in step (b); f) regenerating the SACE from step (b) to its at least partially acid form by a solution of a strong acid and utilizing the SACE in its at least partially acid form in step (d) while forming an effluent containing an acidic solution of salts, comprising cations bound to the cation exchanger in step (b) and the anions of the strong acid; g) regenerating the WACE from step (a) to its at least partially acid form by the effluent from step (f) and utilizing the WACE in its at least partially acid form in step (a) while forming an effluent containing a solution of salts, comprising cations bound to the cation exchangers in steps (a) and (b) and the anions of the strong acid; and h) directing the salt solution obtained as the effluent of step (g) for commercial use.
Abstract:
Substantially builder-free fine fabric detergent compositions which comprise an aqueous solution containing from about 10 to about 70 weight percent of a surfactant mixture consisting essentially of a 1:3 to about 10:1 weight ratio combination of a glycoside surfactant and an antistatic amine oxide surfactant.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a process for the recovery of 1,3-propanediol from an aqueous feed stream. The present invention involves contacting an aqueous feed stream that comprises water, 1,3-propanediol, and at least one contaminant with at least one solvent extractant to form a mixture. The mixture is separated into a first phase and a second phase. The second phase comprises a majority of the water from the aqueous feed stream. The first phase comprises solvent extractant and at least some of the 1,3-propanediol that was present in the aqueous feed stream. The first phase is removed from the separated second phase and is contacted with at least one hydrophobic solvent to form a second mixture. The second mixture is separated into a third phase and a fourth phase. The third phase comprises the majority of both the solvent extractant and the hydrophobic solvent. The fourth phase comprises 1,3-propanediol and the majority of the water of the first phase. The weight ratio in the fourth phase of 1,3-propanediol to any one contaminant present is greater than the weight ratio of 1,3-propanediol to the same contaminant in the aqueous feed stream prior to the aqueous feed stream being contacted with the solvent extractant.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for purifying an aqueous feed stream (10) comtaining a product organic acid and a strong contaminant such as another organic acid. The molar concentration of the organic acid in the feed stream (10) is at least 20 times greater than that of the contaminant. The feed stream (10) is contacted with an immiscible basic extractant (18) that has a greater affinity for the contaminant and which complexes with the contaminant and some of the organic acid. The complexed extractant is separated from the aqueous stream (10), so as to produce a first effluent stream (20) comprising product organic acid. The complexed extractant is contacted with a displacing acid, for which the extractant has a greater affinity than contaminant or extractant. As a result, a second effluent stream (28) comprising organic acid and a third effluent stream (30) are produced.
Abstract:
A homogeneous and single-phase liquid laundry detergent contains alkyl glycoside nonionic surfactant and a detergent builder having a water solubility at 25 DEG C of less than about 55 weight percent.