Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
6-30-1958
Degree Name
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering
First Advisor
Saul I. Kreps
Second Advisor
C. L. Mantell
Third Advisor
James A. Bradley
Abstract
A method to manufacture purified lactic acid from technical grade lactic acid 04%) was investigated. In this method, technical grade lactic acid was reacted with normal butyl alcohol, the water formed during the esterification was azeotropically removed, The ester formed, was separated from the excess butanol by vacuum distillation. Finally, the ester separated by distillation :as hydrolyzed to a purified grade of lactic acid.
In this study, several features are reported, which to the best of knowledge, appear in a publication for the first time. They are:
1. Conditions for the esterification of technical grade lactic acid with butanol, resulting in high yields of ester were developed.
2. Butyl lactate was hydrolyzed to a purified grade of lactic acid.
3. Although butyl lactate has been prepared before, this is the first time that data pertaining to preparation and yields from the technical acid have been reported in detail.
Recommended Citation
Wezowicz, Edward Francis, "Purification of technical grade latic acid" (1958). Theses. 3199.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3199
