Abstract:
The invention provides a process for the isolation of levulinic acid and formic acid from a composition comprising formic acid and levulinic acid, said process comprising a solid-liquid separation step, a vapor removal step, and a solvent-solvent extraction step, wherein a vapor condensate vapor and/or an aqueous phase from the solvent extraction is used to wash the solid fraction. Washing with vapor condensate results in higher levulinic acid yields (higher levulinic acid recovery) as compared to washing with normal water. Washing with aqueous phase results in a less compressible filter cake. Washing first with aqueous phase and subsequently with condensate results in even higher levulinic acid yields. The process is suitable for isolating levulinic acid and formic acid from compositions made by acid hydrolysis of a lignocellulosic biomass, and also from compositions made by acid hydrolysis of sugars such as glucose and fructose.
Abstract:
The invention provides a process for the production of a biomass hydrolysate suitable for the production of levulinic acid and formic acid, a biomass hydrolysate obtainable by said process, a process for the production of levulinic acid and formic acid from said biomass, and levulinic acid and formic acid obtainable by said process. The hydrolysis process includes a single hydrolysis step wherein a slurried biomass is subjected to a temperature of between 120 and 200° C., preferably between 160 and 190° C., for a time period of between 2 and 8 hours, preferably between 20 and 140 minutes at a mineral acid concentration of between 1-15 wt %. The process can be carried out starting from lignocellulosic biomass, and also from glucose and fructose.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for the production of 5-formylvaleric acid and adipic acid or esters thereof from an isomeric mixture of pentenoic acid or esters thereof said mixture comprising at least 4-pentenoic acid or esters thereof, and further comprising 3-pentenoic acid and/or 2-pentenoic acid or esters thereof.The process allows for efficient production of two different intermediates for producing polyamide using a single process, with good selectivity, little waste, in an economically efficient fashion. The process is very suitable to use an isomeric pentenoic acid mixture obtained from valerolactone, and can be used to produce renewable polyamide intermediates using a single process.