Patent ID: 6497644
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for recycling amido-carboxylic acid esters into amido-carboxylic acids comprising the steps of:(a) combining a waste material containing amido-carboxylic acid esters with an aqueous solution of a strong acid having a pH less than about 1 to form a mixture, (b) heating the mixture to a temperature and for a time sufficient to hydrolyze the amido-carboxylic acid esters to amido-carboxylic acids, (c) adding sufficient base to adjust the pH of the mixture to greater than about 2, (d) maintaining the mixture at a temperature below reflux for a time sufficient to allow phase separation of the liquid aqueous and organic phases within the mixture, (e) separating the organic phase and the aqueous phase, and (f) recovering the amido-carboxylic acids from the organic phase.