PROCESS FOR PREPARING A PARTICULARLY PURE GLYCOLIC ACID

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a particularly pure glycolic acid by saponification with chloroacetic acid with an excess of alkali metal hydroxide, with the resulting alkali metal chloride being filtered off, and the 20 to 70% strength by weight glycolic acid solution being subsequently subjected to anelectrodialysis at 20 to 40.degree.C and a cell voltage of 0.5 to 2.5 V per cell pair. The process of the invention permits optimum removal of sodium chloride and chloroacetic acid as necessary for preparing a particularly pure glycolic acid. Other organic acids, nitrogen compounds, aldehydes and salts are not produced in this process and thus do not affect the product quality.