Process and apparatus for purification of a stream containing a cyclic ester of an alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid
US10058795B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 2014 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D2009/0086
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention relates to a process for purification of a stream containing a cyclic ester of an alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid of formula (I), wherein each R independently represents hydrogen or an aliphatic hydrocarbon having 1 to 6 carbon atoms comprising the steps of: (a) separating the cyclic ester-containing stream into one or more cyclic ester-containing vapor fractions and one or more cyclic ester-containing liquid fractions; (b) condensing a cyclic ester-containing vaporized fraction as obtained in step (a) to obtain a cyclic ester-containing condensate; (c) subjecting at least part of the cyclic ester-containing condensate as obtained in step (b) to melt crystallization to obtain a purified cyclic ester-containing stream and a residue stream; and (d) recovering the purified cyclic ester-containing stream as obtained in step (c). The invention further relates to an apparatus suitable for carrying out the present process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.