PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF OXODISUCCINATES USEFUL AS DETERGENT BUILDERS

摘要

An improved method is disclosed for preparing sodium and calcium 2,2'-oxodisuccinates from maleic anhydride, or maleic acid, and malic acid, in which ether-bond formation is conducted with both calcium and sodium ions copresent in an ultimately homogeneous, concentrated, basic aqueous environment at temperatures between about 65 DEG C and about 85 DEG C. Under these conditions, 2,2'-oxodisuccinate salt production is an unexpectedly rapid, effective, convenient and potentially economical process.