David A Larkin

US Patent:

6518454, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

Oct 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/975872

Inventors:

Bhaskar Krishna Arumugam - Kingsport TN
Larry Wayne Blair - Gate City VA
Brendan William Boyd - Johnson City TN
Nick Allen Collins - Fall Branch TN
David Anthony Larkin - Johnson City TN
Steven Thomas Perri - Kingsport TN
Chester Wayne Sink - Kingsport TN

Assignee:

Eastman Chemical Company - Kingsport TN

International Classification:

C07C 6702

US Classification:

560265, 560174, 560185, 562577, 562587, 562589

Abstract:

Disclosed is a process wherein a solution of a carboxylic acid in a first solvent and an alcohol are fed to a simulated moving bed reactor (SMBR) containing a solid(s) to produce a first stream comprising a solution of an ester of the carboxylic acid and the alcohol and a second stream comprising the first solvent. The solid(s) present in the SMBR facilitates the esterification reaction and the separation of the first solvent from the carboxylic acid. The process is particularly valuable for the preparation of an alkanol solution of an alkyl 2-keto-L-gulonate ester (AKLG) from an aqueous fermentation broth containing dissolved 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (KLG) by feeding the fermentation broth and an alkanol to a simulated moving bed reactor which contains a solid acidic esterification catalyst to produce a stream comprising an alkanol solution of an ALKG. The alkanol solution of an ALKG may be used directly to convert the ALKG to ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).