Patent ID: 9162961
Filing Date: 2015-10-20
Classification: C07C,C12P

Abstract:
1. A process for the preparation of succinic acid comprising: a) providing an aqueous medium comprising magnesium succinate by fermentation, wherein a carbohydrate source is fermented by means of a micro-organism to form succinic acid, a magnesium base being added as neutralising agent during fermentation to provide the magnesium succinate; b) subjecting the aqueous medium comprising magnesium succinate to a crystallisation step and a salt exchange step to provide an aqueous solution comprising a monovalent succinate salt, wherein the salt exchange, which is performed either prior to or after crystallisation, comprises treating the magnesium succinate with a monovalent base to provide a magnesium base and the monovalent succinate salt; c) adjusting the concentration of the monovalent succinate salt in the aqueous solution to a value between 10 and 35 wt. %; d) subjecting the aqueous solution comprising the monovalent succinate salt to water-splitting electrodialysis, to produce a first solution comprising monovalent base and a second solution comprising succinic acid and monovalent succinate salt, the electrodialysis being carried out to a partial conversion of 40 to 95 mole %; e) separating the second solution comprising succinic acid and monovalent succinate salt into succinic acid and a solution comprising the monovalent succinate salt by crystallisation; f) recycling the solution of step e) comprising the monovalent succinate salt to step d).