PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF SORBIC ACID

摘要

A process for the preparation of sorbic acid by subjecting a polyester prepared from ketene and crotonaldehyde to hydrolysis in the presence of an acid, which comprises the step of subjecting a reaction mixture of the hydrolysis to solid-liquid separation at 30 to 60 DEG C to obtain sorbic acid as a solid and, if necessary, the step of subjecting the sorbic acid obtained by the solid-liquid separation to rinsing with an aqueous sorbic acid solution generated in the purification process of sorbic acid subsequent to the solid-liquid separation. This process permits easy and efficient removal of tarry substances formed in the hydrolysis as by-products, thus attaining a decrease in the load necessary for the purification.