Abstract: Method and devices for separating and purifying carboxylic acids from fermentation broths comprising carboxylic acid ammonium salts are disclosed herein. The method includes (a) removing biomass and any solids present from the fermentation broth; (b) preparing a solution comprising the desired carboxylic acid and an additional solution comprising ammonium salts, by carrying out simulated moving bed chromatography (SMB); (c) ultra-purifying the solution comprising the desired carboxylic acid from method step (b); (d) concentrating the purified carboxylic acid solution from method step (c); (e) crystallizing the concentrated carboxylic acid solution from method step (d); and (f) concentrating the additional solution comprising ammonium salts from method step (b). A combination of reverse osmosis and evaporation is carried out in method steps (d) and (f), and the vapor from the evaporation of method step (f) is passed into the evaporation of method step (d).

Abstract: Disclosed is a test and test apparatus used to determine whether lactic acid is suitable for polymerization. The test apparatus comprises a) means for the polycondensation of the lactic acid to form a pre-polymer, b) means for depolymerization of the prepolymer to form dilactide, and c) means for carrying out analytical methods to determine at least one of the dilactide yield and/or the racemization, wherein lactic acid which is suitable for polymerization exhibits a dilactide yield of >90% and a racemization of <5%.

Abstract: Method and devices for separating and purifying carboxylic acids from fermentation broths comprising carboxylic acid ammonium salts are disclosed herein. The method includes (a) removing biomass and any solids present from the fermentation broth; (b) preparing a solution comprising the desired carboxylic acid and an additional solution comprising ammonium salts, by carrying out simulated moving bed chromatography (SMB); (c) ultra-purifying the solution comprising the desired carboxylic acid from method step (b); (d) concentrating the purified carboxylic acid solution from method to step (c); (e) crystallizing the concentrated carboxylic acid solution from method step (d); and (f) concentrating the additional solution comprising ammonium salts from method step (b). A combination of reverse osmosis and evaporation is carried out in method steps (d) and (f), and the vapor from the evaporation of method step (f) is passed into the evaporation of method step (d).

Abstract: Disclosed is a test and test apparatus used to determine whether lactic acid is suitable for polymerization.