Patent ID: 8530695
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: C07C,C07D,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for separating and recovering concentrated formic acid from an aqueous liquid mixture containing formic acid, levulinic acid and up to 10% by weight furfural, obtained by degradation process of biomass, comprising: subjecting said mixture to liquid-liquid extraction process with an extracting agent, resulting in an organic phase comprising said extracting agent, formic acid, levulinic acid, furfural, and up to 5% by weight water, and an aqueous phase comprising essentially water; separating said aqueous phase from said organic phase; recovering furfural from said organic phase; recycling the aqueous phase formed in the furfural recovery back to an infeed of the furfural recovery; recovering formic acid in a form having a concentration of at least 50% by weight from said organic phase by distillation; and recovering levulinic acid or levulinate salt from said organic phase.