Patent ID: 6169187
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: C07D

Abstract:
A process for the recovery of ascorbic acid from a feed solution containing at least one precursor of ascorbic acid, wherein said feed solution is a fermentation liquor comprising: converting said precursor into at least one product, said at least one product being ascorbic acid in an organic extractant composition, said organic extractant composition comprising (a) at least one secondary or tertiary alkyl amine in which the aggregate number of carbon atoms is at least 20, as a primary extractant, and (b) a polar extraction enhancer compound having at least five carbon atoms and selected from the group consisting of alkanols. ketones, aldehydes, esters, ethers, carboxylic acids, tertiary amines, and trialkylphosphates; wherein said extractant composition comprises at least 2 moles of said polar extraction enhancer compound per one mole of primary extractant; andsubjecting said ascorbic acid-containing organic extractant composition to a stripping operation with aqueous solution at a temperature of at least 20.degree. C. higher than the temperature at which said conversion is carried out; whereby there is obtained an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid in which the concentration of ascorbic acid is higher than 5%.