Abstract: A cation exchange membrane mediated acid-salt metathetic process. An aqueous salt solution is placed into a first compartment on one side of the membrane together with an organic amine extractant of limited water miscibility, and an aqueous acid solution is placed into a second compartment on the other side of the membrane. Product acid forms in the first compartment and collects in the organic amine extractant from where it is recovered. The process is particularly suitable for the recovery of a carboxylic acid from its salt.

Abstract: Process for the treatment of a material comprising a polymer, especially a polyamide. The process consists in subjecting the polyamide to hydrolysis in the presence of a hydrolyzing nitrous grouping and transforming the hydrolyzed compounds into diacids. The treatment of a polyamide 6.6 results in the recovery of adipic acid and other diacids corresponding to the participating acid monomer and to the transformation of at least one part of the diamine monomer into diacids.

Abstract: Fluorinated carboxylic acids can be recovered from materials which contain them by releasing, if necessary, the carboxylic acids with sufficiently strong acids, esterifying the released acids and distilling off the esters. The esters can be advantageously directly hydrolyzed with aqueous ammonia solution to give the corresponding ammonium salts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for obtaining adipic acid from the aqueous nitric acid mother liquors that arise during industrial adipic acid production by(i) removing nitric acid from the aqueous mother liquor by evaporation to a concentrate having a residual content of at most about 2.5 wt. % of HNO.sub.3,(ii) mixing the concentrate obtained according to step (i) with water or dilute aqueous nitric acid in a quantity corresponding to a weight ratio of solid to liquid of about 1:2.1 to about 1:1.2,(iii) allowing the water added in step (ii) or the nitric acid added in step (ii) to act upon the concentrate for at least about 10 minutes at about 20.degree. to about 80.degree. C., and(iv) separating adipic acid as crystals that are formed (1) during step (iii) at temperatures of no more than about 35.degree. C. or (2) after step (iii) by cooling the mixture from step (iii) to about 10.degree. to about 35.degree. C.

Abstract: Crystallization of adipic acid using low intensity ultrasonic agitation during crystallization results in purer product that is more readily handled. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the decomposition of trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) to form chlorides, carbonates and formates is disclosed. The process comprises treating TCAA with 6 or more equivalents of a metal hydroxide at a temperature above 60.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the recovery of adipic acid from mother liquors collected during commercial production of adipic acid, wherein said mother liquors contain from 52 to 60% by weight of nitric acid calculated as HNO.sub.3, not taking into account the organic constituents, from 2 to 6% by weight of succinic acid, from 4 to 9% by weight of glutaric acid, and from 5 to 10% by weight of adipic acid, by selective crystallization of the adipic acid dissolved in said mother liquors by(a) adding an aqueous adipic acid solution having an adipic acid content of from 0.5 to 6% by weight to said mother liquor in the temperature range of from 30.degree. to 60.degree. C. in such a quantity that the concentration of nitric acid in the mixture is reduced to 35 to 50% by weight;(b) cooling the mixture by at least 5 degrees Celsius within a period of from 0.

Abstract: The known liming sulfuric acid process for the recovery of crystalline citric acid from a fermentation broth is modified by subjecting the mother liquor from the crystallization to extraction with a water-immiscible organic extraction that contains an amine. The resulting extract is neutralized with a recycled brine with alkali citrate and alkali citrate is crystallized from the concentrated brine obtained this way.

Abstract: According to the present invention which comprises subjecting an aqueous solution of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or its water-soluble salt containing an acid impurity, whose acidity is higher than that of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, to contact with an anion-exchange resin, then allowing the 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or the water-soluble salt thereof to precipitate from the processed solution obtained by allowing the impurity to be adsorbed, 2KGA or its water-soluble salt of a high purity can be separated in a high yield from an aqueous solution of 2KGA or its water-soluble salt containing acid impurities with less number of steps as compared with conventional methods.

Abstract: A process for recovering acetic acid from an aqueous acetic acid solution comprises contacting the solution with a solvent comprising a diluent component and an extractant component. The extractant component is selected from the group consisting of di-2,4,4-trimethylpentyl-n-octyl phosphine oxide, tri-2,4,4-dimethylpenthyl phosphine oxide and mixtures thereof, and the diluent component comprises at least one high molecular weight ketone. This invention is useful in recovering acetic acid from both low concentration and concentrated aqueous acetic acid streams, and is particularly useful in recovering acetic acid from aqueous acetic acid waste streams in processes for the production of terephthalic acid and cellulose acetate.

Abstract: Black acid or the sulfuric acid residue obtained in the manufacture of ethyl acrylate by reaction of ethylene and acrylic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid is heated and distilled in the presence of a solvent for recovery of acrylic acid and ethyl acrylate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a material for medical and pharmaceutical products from pyroligneous acid extracted as water content in smoke generated by baking arbor and bark. Pyroligneous acid is heated, and resultant evaporation gas in a temperature range 98.degree. to 103.degree. C. is extracted and liquified by cooling.

Abstract: Aqueous glyoxylic acid solutions, essentially free of other acids, are recovered from aqueous solutions which still contain other acids, by a method in which the aqueous solution is mixed with an organic nitrogen compound at as high as 50.degree. C., the phases are separated, and the glyoxylic acid is extracted from the organic phase with water, at a higher temperature.

Abstract: In a process for the recovery of acetic acid by extracting acetic acid from an aqueous acetic acid solution containing a metallic salt of sulfuric acid with an organic extractant comprising a tertiary amine and an organic diluent and recovering acetic acid from the liquid extract, a mixture of a tertiary amine containing sulfuric acid and an organic diluent is used as an organic extractant so as to suppress energy consumption and to increase extraction efficiency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the extraction of carboxylic acids from aqueous solutions with a carboxylic acid content below 8% by weight. A mixture of an aliphatic amine with a total carbon number of at least 10 and a phenol or naphthol is used as extracting agent. The molar ratio of phenol:amine or alkylated phenol:amine or naphthol:amine is in the range from 0.1:1 to around 1.1:1.

Abstract: In extracting a solute from an aqueous solution using a mixer-settler extractor and an organic extractant comprising a mixture of a tertiary amine and an organic diluent, the extractor is operated while the liquid phase inside the mixer thereof is kept in a state of solvent dispersion. Thus, the mixer-settler extractor can be operated efficiently.

Abstract: The process of extracting butyric acid and normal butanol from microbial fermentation broth, comprising contacting an aqueous solution of a microbial fermentation broth with vinyl bromide to extract any butyric acid and normal butanol which is present from the fermentation broth into the vinyl bromide. The vinyl bromide is thereafter separated from the aqueous fermentation broth and then evaporated, leaving the butyric acid and/or normal butanol in substantially pure, isolated form.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for improving the separation and recovery of metal formate and pentaerythritol as crystalline products, from an aqueous waste stream of a pentaerythritol manufacturing operation which involves the reaction of formaldehyde with acetaldehyde in the presence of a metal hydroxide catalyst.The pentaerythritol process waste stream is passed through a macroreticular resin bed to remove organic byproducts, and the purified waste stream is then evaporatively concentrated to produce crystalline sodium formate product. The resultant mother liquor is diluted with water-miscible alkanol to precipitate a pentaerythritol-metal formate mixture. The precipitate is washed with a portion of waste stream feed to dissolve the metal formate and yield undissolved crystalline pentaerythritol as a product.At least about 85 percent of the metal formate and at least about 90 percent of the pentaerythritol contained in the original waste stream are recovered as products of the process.

Abstract: An aliphatic organic acid fraction is separated from the kraft black liquor by subjecting the liquor to ultrafiltration, treating the resulting permeate by electrodialysis, acidifying the resultant deionate to about pH 4-5, separating the lignin solids which precipitate following this acidification, raising the pH of the separated solution to about 7-8 and finally subjecting the neutralized solution to electrodialytic water-splitting.

Abstract: In extracting object material from its aqueous solution by using an organic solvent, a mixer-settler extractor is employed as the extractor and operated while a solvent dispersion is maintained in the mixer, and part of the aqueous phase discharged from the settler is recycled to the mixer so that the organic solvent phase in the mixer is stably maintained as the disperse phase.

Abstract: A process is provided for the thermochemical conversion of biomass to useful gaseous and liquid organic products. The inventive process utilizes a catalyst to obtain increased yields of gaseous and liquid organic products and decreased yields, if any, of solid and semisolid tar/oils.

Abstract: A process is provided for the recovery of organic acids from dilute aqueous solutions. The acid in the form of its calcium salt is treated with a tertiary amine carbonate and the resulting trialkylammonium salt of the acid is isolated and heated to give the acid plus a tertiary amine.

Abstract: In one of its embodiments this invention provides a process for recovering C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 dicarboxylic acid components contained in a waste byproduct stream derived from a reaction system in which adipic acid is produced by nitric acid oxidation of cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol.An important aspect of the process is the esterification and extraction of the C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 dicarboxylic acids in the aqueous byproduct stream with a mixture of C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkanol and C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 alkanol, and the subsequent recovery of di(C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 alkyl) esters of succinic acid, glutaric acid and adipic acid.In a broader aspect this invention provides a process for recovery of water miscible organic acid components contained in an aqueous solution as C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 alkyl esters of the organic acids.

Abstract: A process is provided for the recovery of acetic acid from dilute aqueous solutions. The acid in the form of its calcium salt is treated with a tertiary amine carbonate and the resulting trialkylammonium acetate is isolated and heated to give the acetic acid plus a tertiary amine.

Abstract: A method of recovering or extracting chemicals, such as furfural, formic acid, acetic acid and other organic compounds from acidic hydrolysates of plants or vegetable matter, especially spent sulfite liquors after conversion of the pentosans into pentoses and then into furfural by heating the hydrolysate in an acidic environment. The conversion of the pentosans pentoses into furfural, preferably with acidulation, is accomplished in a counterflow or countercurrent flow heat exchanger and a reactor, preferably a tubular reactor. The hydrolysate which has additionally been heated and converted in the reactor is used as a heating medium or heat carrier for heating up the hydrolysate which is converted in the counterflow heat exchanger, whereupon there is recovered as the distillate furfural in conjunction with the formic acid, acetic acid and the like.

Abstract: In one embodiment, this invention provides a process for converting a dilute aqueous filtrate byproduct stream from adipic acid manufacture into a concentrated methanolic solution which does not solidify at ambient temperatures.In another embodiment, this invention provides an improved process for the separation and recovery of byproducts associated with the isolation of C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 dicarboxylic acids contained in a waste byproduct stream derived from an adipic acid manufacturing operation involving nitric acid oxidation of a cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol feedstream in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for recovery of sodium formate from an aqueous waste stream which is a byproduct mother liquor derived from a reaction system in which pentaerythritol is produced by the reaction of formaldehyde with acetaldehyde in the presence of sodium hydroxide catalyst.As one of its important features, the invention process involves contacting the mother liquor with a monoalkylamine solvent which is highly selective for extraction of organic materials to the exclusion of sodium formate.

Abstract: A process for producing a carboxylic acid salt from carbonaceous material comprising treating a mixture of a carbonaceous material which is essentially free of minerals from oil shale, water, and a material containing minerals from oil shale with oxygen under conditions sufficient to convert said carbonaceous material to a carboxylic acid salt.The carboxylic acid salt can be converted to a carboxylic acid.The process is especially useful for producing an aromatic carboxylic acid from an aromatic carbonaceous material such as coal.

Abstract: A process for obtaining lower carboxylic acids from aqueous lower carboxylic acid salts, such as obtained from a fermenter. The process involves converting the lower carboxylic acid salt to the corresponding acid with carbon dioxide, extracting the thus formed acid with a solvent and using the thus formed bicarbonate salt to buffer the fermenter.

Abstract: In the manufacture of adipic acid by nitric acid oxidation of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone glutaric and succinic acids are recovered from the reaction by-product and waste stream by crystallizing adipic acid and succinic acid out of the stream leaving glutaric acid in the residue; forming succinic anhydride from the succinic acids so obtained; separating the succinic anhydride from the adipic acid by distillation thereby to recover succinic acid in anhydride form; and crystallizing, thereby to recover, the glutaric acid from the residue.

Abstract: Citric acid can be extracted from aqueous citric acid solutions by contacting such solutions with an N-substituted alkyl amide containing a total of at least twelve carbon atoms.

Abstract: A novel process for producing pyruvic acid is provided in which process hydroxyacetone is oxidized with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in a water-containing or aqueous solvent in the presence of a catalyst. The catalysts useful for the above oxidation reaction are those composed of either at least one metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, and rhenium, or the at least one metal admixed with at least one element selected from the group consisting of silver, tellurium, tin, bismuth, lead and indium or with a compound of the at least one element. The resulting pyruvate can be effectively isolated in the form of a solid by concentrating the reaction solution and adding the concentrate to isopropyl alcohol.

Abstract: An improved process for producing adipic acid from the acidic wash waters which arise in the process for oxidizing cyclohexane with air, by treatment with nitric acid at from 10.degree. to 50.degree. C., with removal of the heat of reaction by external cooling, wherein the reaction mixture is led, at a flow velocity of at least 2.0 m/sec, as a thin layer spirally in counter-current to the coolant, under conditions which do not perturb the flow of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A method for effectively treating waste water discharged from the ammoxidation process for the production of acrylonitrile which comprises treating waste water or a preliminary oxidized liquid of said waste water with activated carbon in an adsorption and separation zone, subjecting the spent carbon slurry from said adsorption and separation zone to wet oxidation in the presence of copper values and ammonium ions at a pH of not higher than 5 in a regeneration zone to thereby regererate the spent carbon, and recycling the regenerated activated carbon to said adsorption and separation zone. The rate of regeneration of the spent carbon in the regeneration zone can be further increased by adjusting the amount of copper values to at least 1,000 ppm. Thus, the waste water containing extremely hardly decomposable substances can be effectively treated and, at the same time, the spent carbon can be regenerated with less degradation of adsorption capacity.

Abstract: In a coal gasification operation or similar conversion process carried out in the presence of an alkali metal-containing catalyst wherein solid particles containing alkali metal residues are produced, alkali metal constituents are recovered from the particles primarily in the form of water soluble alkali metal formates by treating the particles with a calcium or magnesium-containing compound in the presence of water at a temperature between about 250.degree. F. and about 700.degree. F. and in the presence of added carbon monoxide. During the treating process the water insoluble alkali metal compounds comprising the insoluble alkali metal residues are converted into water soluble alkali metal formates.

Abstract: A method for obtaining glutaric acid, succinic acid, and adipic acid from an acid mixture obtained as a by-product in the industry and comprising glutaric acid, succinic acid and adipic acid, which comprises the steps of: (1) contacting the acid mixture with urea of 1 to 2 moles per mole of the acid mixture, in solution, to deposit a urea-glutaric acid adduct so that the weight ratio of glutaric acid remaining in the solution to succinic acid is 1.2 or less when the adipic acid content is in the range of 0% by weight to 7% by weight and 1.

Abstract: A lower carboxylic acid such as acetic acid is separated and recovered from an aqueous medium by the steps which include contacting, in an extraction zone, the aqueous medium with an extracting agent such as trioctyl phosphine oxide dissolved in an organic solvent such as a mixture of paraffins having a boiling range of about 160.degree. C. to 175.degree. C.

Abstract: Isobutylene, hydrogen cyanide and sulfuric acid are reacted to produce tertiary butyl formamide, which is hydrolyzed by sodium hydroxide to produce tertiary butyl amine. The tertiary butyl amine is removed by vaporization and the residue is treated with sulphuric acid and methanol and is distilled to recover formate values as methyl formate or sodium formate. There is additionally recovered crystalline sodium sulfate and a water immiscible yellow organic phase.

Abstract: To recover amino acids from raw sugar juice, as obtained in beet extraction, the juice is treated with acid or with lime to coagulate impurities which are separated off. The juice may be treated before or after coagulation with a pectin-cleaving enzyme. The juice so pretreated can be directly passed through a strong cation exchanger and a weak anion exchanger whereby the amino acids are adsorbed. Switchover to a new cation exchanger is initiated when betaine flows out the column. Elution is effected, preferably with an ammonium compound, and eluate is collected, preferably each fraction being enriched in a different amino acid. The sugar juice may be concentrated and crystallized in known manner and is of comparatively high purity.