Abstract: A process for producing lactic acid is provided. The process comprises (a) reacting a stream rich in saccharide with sodium hydroxide in the presence of water to produce a reaction mixture comprising sodium lactate; (b) reacting at least a portion of the sodium lactate with HCl to produce lactic acid and sodium chloride; (c) converting at least a portion of the sodium chloride to chlorine and sodium hydroxide; and (d) recycling at least a portion of the sodium hydroxide produced in step (c) to step (a). Also provided are processes for the production of alkyl lactate, oligomeric lactic acid, lactide, alkyl lactyllactate, poly-lactic acid, propylene glycol and acrylic acid.

Abstract: A process for the production of hemicellulose derived monosaccharides comprising: (a) contacting an aqueous hemicellulosic stream with a C3-8 alkyl alcohol at elevated temperature and acidic pH to produce a reaction mixture comprising at C3-8 alkyl ester and a hemicellulose-derived monosaccharide; and (b) separating the reaction mixture obtained from step (a) into an aqueous phase comprising said hemicellulose-derived monosaccharide and an organic phase comprising said C3-08 alkyl ester. The product of step (b) may be further processed using an optional step: (c) reacting said hemicellulose-derived monosaccharide obtained from step (b) with a metal hydroxide or a quaternary ammonium hydroxide to produce a metal lactate or quaternary ammonium lactate.

Abstract: A process for treating a mixture of R,R- and S,S-lactide is provided. The process involves contacting the mixture with an aliphatic alcohol and an enzyme in the presence of a ketone solvent to produce a mixture comprising aliphatic ester of lactic acid corresponding to one lactide enantiomer, and the aliphatic ester of lactyllactic acid corresponding to the other lactide enantiomer. Also provided are processes for the production of S-lactic acid, S,S-lactide, poly-S-lactic acid, R-lactic acid, R,R-lactide, poly-R-lactic acid and stereocomplex polylactic acid.

Abstract: A process for treating a mixture of R,R- and S,S-lactide is provided. The process involves contacting the mixture with an aliphatic alcohol and an enzyme to produce a mixture comprising aliphatic ester of lactic acid corresponding to one lactide enantiomer and the aliphatic ester of lactyllactic acid corresponding to the other lactide enantiomer; separating the mixture from the enzyme, and recycling the enzyme to the process; and separating the aliphatic ester of lactic acid from the aliphatic ester of lactyl-lactic acid by fractional distillation. Also provided are processes for the production of S-lactic acid, S,S-lactide, poly-S-lactic acid, R-lactic acid, R,R-lactide, poly-R-lactic acid and stereocomplex polylactic acid.

Abstract: A process for treating a mixture of R,R- and S,S-lactide is provided. The process involves contacting the lactide mixture with an aliphatic alcohol and/or an alkoxide to produce a mixture of R,R- and S,S-aliphatic ester of lactyllactic acid, subsequently contacting the mixture of R,R- and S,S-aliphatic ester of lactyllactic acid with an enzyme to produce a mixture comprising aliphatic ester of lactic acid corresponding to one lactide enantiomer and the aliphatic ester of lactyllactic acid corresponding to the other lactide enantiomer, and recovering the product. Also provided are processes for the production of S-lactic acid, S,S-lactide, poly-S-lactic acid, R-lactic acid, R,R-lactide, poly-R-lactic acid and stereocomplex polylactic acid.

Abstract: A process for treating a mixture of R,R- and S,S-lactide is provided. The process involves contacting the mixture with an aliphatic alcohol and an enzyme in the presence of a ketone solvent to produce a mixture comprising aliphatic ester of lactic acid corresponding to one lactide enantiomer, and the aliphatic ester of lactyllactic acid corresponding to the other lactide enantiomer. Also provided are processes for the production of S-lactic acid, S,S-lactide, poly-S-lactic acid, R-lactic acid, R,R-lactide, poly-R-lactic acid and stereocomplex polylactic acid.

Abstract: A process for the production of a complex of lactic acid and either ammonia or an amine, comprising reacting one or more saccharides with barium hydroxide to produce a first reaction mixture comprising barium lactate, and contacting at least part of the first reaction mixture with ammonia or an amine and with carbon dioxide, or with the carbonate and/or bicarbonate salt of ammonia or an amine, to produce a second reaction mixture comprising said complex and barium carbonate.