Patent ID: 6037480
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: C07D,C12P

Abstract:
A process for the recovery of ascorbic acid from an aqueous feed solution containing said acid at a concentration of less than 0.7 mol/kg, comprising:extracting said ascorbic acid with a water-immiscible 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;wherein said extractant composition comprises at least 2 moles of said polar extraction enhancer compound per one mole of primary extractant;separating said ascorbic acid-containing organic extractant composition from residual aqueous solution, 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 extraction is carried out;whereby there is obtained an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid in which the concentration of ascorbic acid is higher than its concentration in said aqueous feed solution.