Abstract: A process for removing lactic acid from an aqueous lactic acid-containing magnesium chloride solution, the weight ratio of magnesium chloride to lactic acid in the aqueous lactic acid-containing magnesium chloride solution being at least 1:1, the process including the steps of subjecting the aqueous lactic acid-containing magnesium chloride solution to an evaporation step, resulting in the formation of a slurry of MgC12.MgL2.4H2O in an aqueous magnesium chloride solution, then subjecting the slurry to a solid-liquid separation step, to separate the solid MgC12.MgL2.4H2O from the aqueous magnesium chloride solution, resulting in the removal of lactic acid from the aqueous lactic acid-containing magnesium chloride solution in the form of MgC12.MgL2.4H2O. The process makes it possible to efficiently remove lactic acid from aqueous lactic acid-containing magnesium chloride solutions, resulting in magnesium chloride solutions with a low lactic acid content which can be further processed as desired.

Abstract: The invention provides a particulate composition comprising at least 1 wt. % of malate particles, said malate particles having a diameter of 50 to 1000 ?m and comprising at least 70 wt. % of co-crystal of malic acid and alkali metal hydrogen malate. Co-crystals of malic acid and alkali metal hydrogen malate can be produced in the form of powders that exhibit very low hygroscopicity and that are capable of imparting a sour flavour that is very similar to that of malic acid. The invention also relates to the use of the aforementioned malate particles as a food ingredient.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing carboxylic acid that includes the following steps is provided. First, subjecting an aqueous mixture, including carboxylic acid and at least 5 wt. % dissolved magnesium chloride, to a forward extraction step using a first organic liquid, including an organic solvent, the organic solvent being selected from the group of C5+ ketones, thereby obtaining an organic carboxylic acid solution and an aqueous waste liquid including magnesium chloride. Second, subjecting the organic carboxylic acid solution to a back extraction step wherein the carboxylic acid is extracted from the organic carboxylic acid solution into an aqueous liquid, thereby obtaining an aqueous carboxylic acid solution and a second organic liquid. Third, subjecting the aqueous waste liquid including magnesium chloride derived from the forward extraction to a thermal decomposition step at a temperature of at least 300° C., thereby decomposing the magnesium chloride to magnesium oxide and HCl.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of methyl acrylate wherein methyl lactate is contacted with a ZSM-5 catalyst in the presence of methanol. It was found that the presence of methanol is essential to obtain a selective process with a high yield. With the process according to the invention methyl acrylate may be obtained as the major product of the reaction, especially if methanol is used as solvent instead of water, while acrylic acid is detected in minor quantity (usually below 10 C %, but often below 5 C %). Methanol may be used as the sole solvent in the process, but preferably also a small amount of water is present in the solvent. In one aspect of the invention, between 1 and 25 wt % of water, based on the total amount of solvent is present.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of methyl acrylate wherein methyl lactate is contacted with a ZSM-5 catalyst in the presence of methanol. It was found that the presence of methanol is essential to obtain a selective process with a high yield. With the process according to the invention methyl acrylate may be obtained as the major product of the reaction, especially if methanol is used as solvent instead of water, while acrylic acid is detected in minor quantity (usually below 10 C %, but often below 5 C %). Methanol may be used as the sole solvent in the process, but preferably also a small amount of water is present in the solvent. In one aspect of the invention, between 1 and 25 wt % of water, based on the total amount of solvent is present.

Abstract: The invention pertains to method for recovering polycarboxylic acid from an aqueous mixture including the steps of: providing an aqueous mixture including polycarboxylic acid and at least 5 wt. % dissolved halide salt, based on the total weight of water and dissolved material in the aqueous mixture; extracting the polycarboxylic acid from the aqueous mixture into a first organic liquid including an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ketones and ethers, thereby obtaining an organic polycarboxylic acid solution and an aqueous waste liquid including the halide salt; and extracting the polycarboxylic acid from the organic carboxylic acid solution into an aqueous liquid, thereby obtaining an aqueous polycarboxylic acid solution and a second organic liquid. The method according to the invention allows a combined purification and concentration step for feed solutions of polycarboxylic acids.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for preparing methyl lactate including the steps of: bringing an aqueous liquid comprising lactic acid, methanol, and at least 5 wt. % of a dissolved chloride salt selected from magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and zinc chloride to reaction conditions, thereby obtaining methyl lactate, wherein an extractant is provided to the reaction mixture before, during, and/or after formation of methyl lactate; subjecting the reaction mixture to a liquid-liquid separation step wherein an organic phase comprising methyl lactate and extractant is separated from an aqueous phase comprising dissolved chloride salt. The extractant preferably includes one or more compounds selected from C5+ ketones and C3-C10 ethers, in particular C5-C8 ketones, more in particular methyl isobutyl ketone. It has been found that the process according to the invention makes it possible to manufacture methyl lactate efficiently and in high yield.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) by converting a furan-2,5-dicarboxylate salt (MFDC) into FDCA, including the steps of combining an aqueous solution of MFDC with a concentration of at least 5 wt. % with an inorganic acid (HY), to form a reaction mixture including solid FDCA in a concentration of 1-15 wt. % in a salt solution resulting from the cation of furan-2,5-dicarboxylate salt and the anion of the inorganic acid (MY solution), removing solid FDCA from the reaction mixture in a solid/liquid separation step, and providing part of the MY solution resulting from the solid/liquid separation step to the step of combining MFDC with HY. The step of providing part of MY salt solution resulting from the solid/liquid separation step to the step of combining MFDC with HY makes it possible to obtain a stable and economic process which results in an FDCA product with good quality and high yield.

Abstract: Set forth is a process for preparing acrylic acid and/or the ester of acrylic acid and lactic acid from a lactic acid oligomer or polymer. As a result of the use of a bromide source and/or a chloride source in combination with a specific acid, a process that can be operated to obtain a high yield, and is relatively easy to perform, is realized.

Abstract: A method for producing lactide including the steps of: providing a solution of lactic acid in a volatile organic solvent, subjecting the solution to an evaporation step to remove volatile organic solvent and water, resulting in the formation of a composition including lactic acid oligomer, adding catalyst to the composition including lactic acid oligomer, and bringing the mixture to reaction conditions, to form lactide. It has been found that the process results in the efficient production of lactide with a high production rate and a good product quality.

Abstract: A process for preparing acrylic acid and/or the ester of acrylic acid and lactic acid from a lactic acid oligomer or polymer, comprising the steps of bringing a reaction mixture comprising the lactic acid oligomer or polymer to reaction conditions to form acrylic acid and/or the ester of acrylic acid and lactic acid, the reacting mixture comprising a halide source selected from a bromide source and/or a chloride source and optionally an acid selected from the group of acids with a pKa of at most 2.0 and compounds which under reaction conditions decompose under the formation of an acid with a pKa of at most 2.0, with the reaction mixture comprising less than 1 wt. % of water, and keeping the reaction mixture under reaction conditions for a time sufficient to produce acrylic acid and/or the ester of acrylic acid and lactic acid.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) by converting a furan-2,5-dicarboxylate salt (MFDC) into furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), includes the steps of combining solid MFDC with an inorganic acid (HY), to form a reaction mixture having solid FDCA in a concentration of 1-15 wt. % in a solution of a salt resulting from the cation of the furan-2,5-dicarboxylate salt and the anion of the inorganic acid (MY solution), removing solid FDCA from the reaction mixture in a solid/liquid separation step, and providing at least 40 vol. % of the MY solution resulting from the solid/liquid separation step to the step of combining MFDC with HY. The step of providing part of the MY salt solution resulting from the solid/liquid separation step to the step of combining MFDC with HY makes it possible to obtain a stable and economic process which results in an FDCA product with good quality, and obtained in high yield.

Abstract: A method for recovering lactic acid from an aqueous mixture including the steps of: providing an aqueous mixture including lactic acid and at least 5 wt. % dissolved magnesium chloride, based on the total weight of water and dissolved material in the aqueous mixture; extracting the lactic acid from the aqueous mixture into a first organic liquid including an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of C5+ ketones, diethylether and methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether, thereby obtaining an organic lactic acid solution and an aqueous waste liquid including magnesium chloride; and extracting the lactic acid from the organic lactic acid solution into an aqueous liquid, thereby obtaining an aqueous lactic acid solution and a second organic liquid. The method according to the invention allows a combined purification and concentration step for feed solutions of lactic acid.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) by converting a furan-2,5-dicarboxylate salt (MFDC) into furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), includes the steps of combining solid MFDC with an inorganic acid (HY), to form a reaction mixture having solid FDCA in a concentration of 1-15 wt. % in a solution of a salt resulting from the cation of the furan-2,5-dicarboxylate salt and the anion of the inorganic acid (MY solution), removing solid FDCA from the reaction mixture in a solid/liquid separation step, and providing at least 40 vol. % of the MY solution resulting from the solid/liquid separation step to the step of combining MFDC with HY. The step of providing part of the MY salt solution resulting from the solid/liquid separation step to the step of combining MFDC with HY makes it possible to obtain a stable and economic process which results in an FDCA product with good quality, and obtained in high yield.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) by converting a furan-2,5-dicarboxylate salt (MFDC) into FDCA, including the steps of combining an aqueous solution of MFDC with a concentration of at least 5 wt.% with an inorganic acid (HY), to form a reaction mixture including solid FDCA in a concentration of 1-15 wt.% in a salt solution resulting from the cation of furan-2,5-dicarboxylate salt and the anion of the inorganic acid (MY solution), removing solid FDCA from the reaction mixture in a solid/liquid separation step, and providing part of the MY solution resulting from the solid/liquid separation step to the step of combining MFDC with HY. The step of providing part of MY salt solution resulting from the solid/liquid separation step to the step of combining MFDC with HY makes it possible to obtain a stable and economic process which results in an FDCA product with good quality and high yield.

Abstract: A method for producing lactide including the steps of: providing a solution of lactic acid in a volatile organic solvent, subjecting the solution to an evaporation step to remove volatile organic solvent and water, resulting in the formation of a composition including lactic acid oligomer, adding catalyst to the composition including lactic acid oligomer, and bringing the mixture to reaction conditions, to form lactide. It has been found that the process results in the efficient production of lactide with a high production rate and a good product quality.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a fermentation process for the production of an organic acid salt including the steps of fermenting a microorganism in a fermentation medium in a fermentation reactor to form a fermentation broth having an organic acid salt, wherein part of the organic acid salt is present in the solid state and part of the organic acid salt is dissolved in the fermentation broth; withdrawing at least part of the fermentation broth from the fermentation reactor, providing the broth to a hydrocyclone, and withdrawing a top effluent and a bottom effluent from the hydrocyclone; providing the bottom effluent from the hydrocyclone to a solid/liquid separation step, to form a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, providing at least 30 vol. % of the total of the top effluent from the hydrocyclone and the liquid fraction from the solid-liquid separation step to the fermentation reactor.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for preparing a succinic acid ester comprising the steps of bringing an aqueous liquid comprising succinic acid, alcohol, and at least 5 wt. % of a dissolved chloride salt selected from magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and zinc chloride, calculated on the weight of the liquid, to reaction conditions, thereby obtaining a succinic acid ester, and recovering the succinic acid ester and an aqueous solution comprising the dissolved chloride salt. It has been found that the process according to the invention shows a high yield and has a high reaction rate. Additionally, it has been found that the process makes it possible to carry out the separation of the succinic acid ester from the aqueous reaction medium in high yield.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for preparing methyl lactate inluding the steps of: bringing an aqueous liquid comprising lactic acid, methanol, and at least 5 wt. % of a dissolved chloride salt selected from magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and zinc chloride to reaction conditions, thereby obtaining methyl lactate, wherein an extractant is provided to the reaction mixture before, during, and/or after formation of methyl lactate; subjecting the reaction mixture to a liquid-liquid separation step wherein an organic phase comprising methyl lactate and extractant is separated from an aqueous phase comprising dissolved chloride salt. The extractant preferably includes one or more compounds selected from C5+ ketones and C3-C10 ethers, in particular C5-C8 ketones, more in particular methyl isobutyl ketone. It has been found that the process according to the invention makes it possible to manufacture methyl lactate efficiently and in high yield.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for preparing a succinic acid ester comprising the steps of bringing an aqueous liquid comprising succinic acid, alcohol, and at least 5 wt. % of a dissolved chloride salt selected from magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and zinc chloride, calculated on the weight of the liquid, to reaction conditions, thereby obtaining a succinic acid ester, and recovering the succinic acid ester and an aqueous solution comprising the dissolved chloride salt. It has been found that the process according to the invention shows a high yield and has a high reaction rate. Additionally, it has been found that the process makes it possible to carry out the separation of the succinic acid ester from the aqueous reaction medium in high yield.