PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS FROM MIXTURES CONTAINING GLYCOL ESTERS DERIVED FROM THESE ACIDS

摘要

A process for the recovery of carboxylic acids from mixtures containing glycol esters derived from these acids. The process comprises reacting these mixtures at boiling with water to form carboxylic acid and entraining the carboxylic acid formed by means of the water by azeotropic distillation, so as to separate off a mixture of carboxylic acid and water. This mixture is subjected to extractive distillation by means of an organic solvent which is insoluble in water and in which water is insoluble. A mixture of water and organic solvent is thereby separated from a solution of carboxylic acid in the organic solvent.