Abstract: A process for the continuous production of lactic acid (a first fermentation product) and of a second fermentation product selected from the group consisting of alcohols and biogas, may include starting from the milling, necessarily carried out under dry conditions, of cereals and more particularly of corn. In the context of this process, a main flow and a flow of wastes which are difficult to ferment are recovered from the milling. These two flows are treated separately but simultaneously so as to produce, by fermentation, on the one hand, lactic acid and, on the other hand, an alcohol and/or biogas.

Abstract: A process for the continuous production of lactic acid (a first fermentation product) and of a second fermentation product selected from the group consisting of alcohols and biogas, may include starting from the milling, necessarily carried out under dry conditions, of cereals and more particularly of corn. In the context of this process, a main flow and a flow of wastes which are difficult to ferment are recovered from the milling. These two flows are treated separately but simultaneously so as to produce, by fermentation, on the one hand, lactic acid and, on the other hand, an alcohol and/or biogas.

Abstract: A process for the production of polylactide, the stages of which for the production and purification of lactide, starting from an aqueous solution of lactic acid or of its derivatives, includes evaporation of water with formation of oligomers, depolymerization to give lactide, condensation and then crystallization of the crude lactide product to give purified lactide, aqueous treatment of the residual fractions from the crystallization and polymerization of purified and/or prepurified lactide to give polylactide in an extruder and in the presence of catalysts. An alternative process includes carrying out the aqueous treatment before the crystallization.

Abstract: A process for the production of polylactide, the stages of which for the production and purification of lactide, starting from an aqueous solution of lactic acid or of its derivatives, includes evaporation of water with formation of oligomers, depolymerization to give lactide, condensation and then crystallization of the crude lactide product to give purified lactide, aqueous treatment of the residual fractions from the crystallization and polymerization of purified and/or prepurified lactide to give polylactide in an extruder and in the presence of catalysts. An alternative process includes carrying out the aqueous treatment before the crystallization.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for purifying the dimeric cyclic esters of lactic (or glycolic) acid starting from a raw lactide (or glycolide) comprising impurities, the method consisting in: extractive and controlled crystallization of the raw lactide, in aqueous medium, controlling the geometry of the formed crystals and carrying out a separation of phases into lactide and impurities; separation of the resulting suspension of crystals, into a phase poor in lactide and loaded with impurities, and a wet cake rich in lactide crystals; drying the resulting wet cake; and recrystallization in melted medium of the resulting dried impure lactide and recuperating the purified lactide.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for purifying the dimeric cyclic esters of lactic (or glycolic) acid starting from a raw lactide (or glycolide) comprising impurities, the method consisting in: extractive and controlled crystallization of the raw lactide, in aqueous medium, controlling the geometry of the formed crystals and carrying out a separation of phases into lactide and impurities; separation of the resulting suspension of crystals, into a phase poor in lactide and loaded with impurities, and a wet cake rich in lactide crystals; drying the resulting wet cake; and recrystallization in melted medium of the resulting dried impure lactide and recuperating the purified lactide.