GB759221A - Process for the separation of valuable organic compounds from desugarized molasses and vinasse - Google Patents

Abstract

Carboxyl-bearing compounds are separated from the residual liquid obtained in the desugarization of molasses or formed as vinasse in the fermentation of carbohydrate-containing liquids by concentrating said liquid, diluting the mass thus obtained with an organic liquid or mixture of organic liquids miscible therewith, which liquid or mixture may or may not be diluted with water, adding, either in admixture with said organic liquid or separately, an acid whose salts with the cations present in molasses are difficultly soluble or insoluble in the liquid medium, separating the resulting precipitate, evaporating the organic liquid, and passing the remainder through one or more ion exchangers. The residual liquid is preferably concentrated to a water content of 40-25 per cent by volume. Preferably 0.6 to 2 kg. of organic liquid is added per kg. of concentrated residual liquid, specified organic liquids being methanol, ethanol and acetone. The quantity of acid used is preferably such that the pH is between 3.5 and 1, specified acids being sulphuric, sulphurous and phosphoric. The precipitate of insoluble salts is preferably caused to form at a temperature above that of the surroundings or, alternatively, solution and precipitate are preferably heated to a temperature above that of the surroundings (temperatures between 35 DEG and 80 DEG C. are preferred in both cases), the whole in each case being subsequently cooled to room temperature and the precipitate and liquid separated. The remainder after evaporation of the organic liquid is preferably passed through an anion exchanger and subsequently, if desired, through a cation exchanger. The separation of glutamic acid, glutamic acid hydrochloride, pyrrolidone-carboxylic acid, aconitic acid, betaine and betaine hydrochloride is described. The pyrrolidone-carboxylic acid may be hydrolysed and separated as glutamic acid. Specification 751,963 is referred to.ALSO:A betaine-containing liquid obtained from the vinasse of fermented molasses by treatment involving removal of salts and colloidal material and percolation through an anion-exchange filter is concentrated and mixed with ground beet pulp to give a strewable powder suitable for admixture in cattle food. Specification 751,963, [Group IV (b)], is referred to.