Abstract
In this study, the feasibility of recovery of lactic acid by batch reactive distillation using cation exchange resin as a catalyst was investigated. For the recovery of lactic acid, two reactions, esterification and hydrolysis, are involved and hence, an apparatus with two distillation columns was developed and operated in a batch mode to ensure enough residence time in the reboiler and column. The effects of operation variables such as catalyst loading, reactant mole ratio, feed concentration, type of alcohols and partial condenser temperature on the yield were studied. In this study, the reaction products of the esterification (methyl lactate and water) were distilled to the hydrolysis part to be recovered into pure lactic acid. The yield of lactic acid increased as catalyst loading in the esterification part increased and reactant mole ratio and feed lactic acid concentration decreased. Methanol as a reactant gave higher yield than any other alcohols. The yield of recovered lactic acid was as high as 90%. The yield of lactic acid was closely related to the boiling temperature of the reaction mixture in the esterification part
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bessling, B., Loening, J. M., Ohligschlaeger, A., Schembecker, G. and Sundmacher, K., “Investigations on the Synthesis of Methyl Acetate in a Heterogeneous Reactive Distillation Process,”Chem. Eng. Technol,21, 393 (1998).
Choi, J. I. and Hong, W. H., “Recovery of Lactic Acid by Batch Distillation with Chemical Reactions Using Ion Exchange Resin,”Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan,32,184 (1999).
Choi, J. I., Hong, W. H. and Chang, H. N., “Reaction Kinetics of Lactic Acid with Methanol Catalyzed by Acid Resins,”International Journal of Chemical Kinetics,28, 37 (1996).
Chopade, S. R and Sharma, M. M., “Reactions of Ethanol and Formaldehyde: Use of Versatile Cation-Exchange Resins as Catalysts in Batch Reactors and Reactive Distillation Columns,”Reactive & Functional Polymers,32,53 (1997).
Cockrem, C. M. and Johnson, P. D., “Recovery of Lactate Esters and Lactic Acid from Fermentation Broth,” US patent,5,210,296,1993.
Evangelista, R. L. and Nikolov, Z. L., “Recovery and Purification of Lactic Acid from Fermentation Broth by Adsorption,”Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology,57/58,471 (1996).
Helfferich, F, “Ion Exchange,” McGraw Hill, New York (1962).
Lipinsky, E. S. and Sinclair, R. G.,“ Is Lactic Acid a Commodity Chemical ?”Chemical Engineering Science,82, 26 (1986).
Seo, Y. and Hong, W. H., “Kinetics of Esterification of Lactic Acid with Methanol in the Presence of Cation Exchange Resin Using a Pseudo-homogeneous Model,”Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan (accepted).
Seo, Y, “A Study on the Purification of Lactic Acid Using Esterification and Batch Reactive Distillation,” MS Thesis, KAIST, Taejon (1999).
Troupe, R. A. and Kobe, K. A., “Analysis of Lactic Add-Lactate Ester Systems,”Analytical Chemistry,22(4), 545 (1950).
Vickroy, T. B., “Lactic Acid,” Comprehensive BiotechnologyMurray Moo-Young, eds., Permagon Press, Oxford (1985).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Seo, Y., Hong, W.H. & Hong, T.H. Effects of operation variables on the recovery of lactic acid in a batch distillation process with chemical reactions. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 16, 556–561 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02708131
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02708131