Claims
- 1. Process for the preparation of color-stable levulinic acid by saponification of an acetylsuccinate with aqueous mineral acid, comprising treating a mixture of the acetylsuccinate and mineral acid continuously with steam counter- currently in a reactor cascade, the reaction being carried out above the boiling point of the alcohol being formed in the reaction or above the boiling point of the aqueous azeotrope being formed.
- 2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the acetylsuccinate which is a diester of a acetylsuccinic acid which is derived from an alcohol whose boiling point or whose boiling point in the azeotrope with water is below 100.degree. C.
- 3. Process according to claim 1, wherein the acetylsuccinate dimethyl acetylsuccinate is.
- 4. Process according to claim 1, wherein aqueous hydrochloric acid is the aqueous mineral acid.
- 5. Process according to claim 4, wherein the acetylsuccinate : molar ratio is 1 : 1 to 7 : 1.
- 6. Process according to claim 5, wherein acetylsuccinate : HCl molar ratio is 3 : 1.
- 7. Process according to claim 1, wherein at least 0.85 kg of steam per kg of acetylsuccinate is employed.
- 8. Process according to claim 1, wherein residence time in the reactor cascade is 30- 60 minutes.
- 9. Process according to claim 1 comprising maintaining a temperature between 110.degree. and 140.degree. C.
- in the bottom of the reactor cascade and a temperature between 90.degree. and 100.degree. C. at the top of the reactor cascade, a temperature difference of at least 10.degree. C. being maintained between the top and bottom.
- 10. Process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction time is about 30 to 60 minutes.
- 11. The process according to claim 1 wherein the levulinic acid has a Gardener index of 1-2.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
1356/89 |
Jun 1989 |
ATX |
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Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of now abandoned application Ser. No. 07/530,967 filed on May 25, 1990 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4236021 |
Hsu et al. |
Nov 1980 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0028234 |
Nov 1980 |
WOX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Wiggins, "Research", 3 140-145 (1950). |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
530967 |
May 1990 |
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