Method for producing a lactic ester from a fermentation juice containing ammonium lactate

摘要

The present invention relates to an industrial process for producing a lactic ester containing in total at least seven carbon atoms, from a fermentation liquor containing ammonium lactate in order to avoid the inherent production of gypsum, with a high yield and according to which the loss of lactic ester in the form of lactamide is limited as much as possible.

主权项

1. A method of producing a lactic acid ester containing a total of at least 7 carbon atoms using a flow of ammonium lactate, wherein a reactive distillation is carried out in a column of a flow of ammonium lactate, in liquid form, the ammonium lactate being pre-purified by
a) elimination of biomass; b) decationization of fermentation juice on an ion exchange resin previously conditioned in ammoniacal form; and c) nanofiltration of the decationized juice; and concentrated simultaneously with a flow of aliphatic alcohol containing 4 to 8 carbon atoms, in vapor form, and wherein a corresponding liquid flow of lactic ester is recovered at the column foot and at the column head a gaseous mixture comprising aliphatic alcohol, ammonia and water.