Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for extracting pure lactic acid from fermentation liquors by ion exchange chromatography on a strongly acidic cation exchanger, preferably in H.sup.+ form. In a first step, the NH.sub.4 lactate coming from the fermentation is converted into the free acid by genuine ion exchange. This conversion is preferably effected on a weakly acidic cation exchanger in H.sup.+ form.

Abstract: There is described a method for the hydrolysis of starch to produce saccharified mash by hydrolyzing and solubilizing amylaceous raw materials above the gelatinization temperature of the starch at atmospheric pressure. The resulting mixtures are saccharified upon cooling by the addition of a saccharifying enzyme. In order to avoid a pre-treatment and purification of the comminuted raw materials as well as long heating and retention periods, thus having a low energy demand despite a complete hydrolysis of starch, comminuted and otherwise untreated grains are stirred into an aqueous take-up liquor being in a hydrolyzing vessel and maintained at a temperature of from 85.degree. to 100.degree. C. Acid is added prior to stirring in or a solubilizing enzyme is added during stirring in. The hydrolyzed mixture obtained is cooled to 60.degree. to 65.degree. C. without retention time in the hydrolyzing vessel and is conducted to the saccharification step.