Patent ID: 6137004
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for treating a medium to recover citric acid therein contained, comprising contacting the medium with a solid-phase free base polymer having tertiary amine functions to adsorb the citric acid, after said contacting, rinsing said free base polymer having tertiary amine functions with an aqueous rinse medium, and after said rinsing, desorbing the citric acid by displacement by passing an aqueous solution of a stronger acid over the polymer so as to form an effluent containing citric acid, collecting the effluent into a citric acid-containing fraction, and ceasing collection of the effluent into the citric acid-containing fraction prior to there being any significant presence of the stronger acid in the effluent, so that the citric acid-containing fraction remains substantially free from contamination by the stronger acid.