Described is a process for recovering phytic acid or phytic acid salt from a medium in which it is contained. This process includes contacting the medium with a solid-phase free base polymer having tertiary amine functions to adsorb the phytic acid or salt thereof. In one preferred mode, the medium to be treated also contains lactic acid, and separate fractions predominant in (i) lactic acid and (ii) phytic acid or phytic acid salt, respectively, are recovered. Also described are preferred processes for treating mediums to recover lactic acid therefrom, and a favored process for obtaining inositol directly by hydrolyzing phytic acid or phytic acid salt while adsorbed on a pyridine-containing polymer.