The present invention generally relates to processes for purification, recovery, and conversion of chlorophenol salts (e.g., 2,5-dichlorophenol and salts thereof). In various aspects, the present invention is related to removing one or more impurities from chlorophenol salt-containing process streams and/or recovering chlorophenol salts from process streams for use of the recovered chlorophenol elsewhere in an integrated process. Process streams that may be treated in accordance with the present invention include those incorporating one or more chlorophenol salts in a feed mixture and also those where one or more chlorophenol salts are present in a product or by-product stream of an integrated process. For example, conversion processes of the present invention are suitable as one piece of an integrated process for producing 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba) or a salt or ester thereof or a process for producing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or a salt or ester thereof. The present invention further relates to processes for preparation, purification, and recovery of intermediates formed in integrated processes utilizing chlorophenol salts such as 2,5-dichlorophenol as starting material, including the intermediate 3,6-dichlorosalicylic acid (3,6-DCSA) formed during preparation of dicamba from 2,5-dichlorophenol.

The invention relates to a method for separating formic acid from a reaction mixture which comprises, in addition to formic acid, a polyoxometalate ion of general formula [PMoxVyO40]n, where 6#x#11, 1#y#6, x+y=12 and 3<n<10, where n, x and y are each integers, wherein the separation occurs by means of an extraction using a linear primary alcohol, wherein the carbon chain of the alcohol comprises 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and the reaction mixture is present in a protic solvent.

The invention relates to a method for separating formic acid from a reaction mixture which comprises, in addition to formic acid, a polyoxometalate ion of general formula [PMoxVyO40]n, where 6#x#11, 1#y#6, x+y=12 and 3<n<10, where n, x and y are each integers, wherein the separation occurs by means of an extraction using a linear primary alcohol, wherein the carbon chain of the alcohol comprises 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and the reaction mixture is present in a protic solvent.

The invention relates to a method for separating formic acid from a reaction mixture which comprises, in addition to formic acid, a polyoxometalate ion of general formula [PMoxVyO40]n, where 6#x#11, 1#y#6, x+y=12 and 3<n<10, where n, x and y are each integers, wherein the separation occurs by means of an extraction using a linear primary alcohol, wherein the carbon chain of the alcohol comprises 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and the reaction mixture is present in a protic solvent.

A method for separation of fatty acid from a mixture having fatty acid, the corresponding acyl lactylate and lactic acid, method having steps of: a) providing dispersion of mixture in polar carrier; b) adjusting dispersion mixture to pH from 5-9; and, c) extracting fatty acid from dispersion carrier mixture into solvent immiscible with polar carrier, obtaining fatty acid solution and aqueous raffinate having lactic acid and fatty acid lactylate. Polar carrier has from 70-100 wt. % of water and from 0-30 wt. % of one or more miscible, polar co-solvents. Aqueous raffinate may be further processed by: i) acidifying raffinate to pH from 0-3; and, either ii)a) allowing acidified raffinate to separate into two layers and separating lower, aqueous layer from residual layer of acyl lactylate, or ii)b) extracting fatty acid lactylate from acidified raffinate into second solvent which is immiscible with aqueous raffinate, obtaining an acyl lactylate solution.

A method for separation of fatty acid from a mixture having fatty acid, the corresponding acyl lactylate and lactic acid, method having steps of: a) providing dispersion of mixture in polar carrier; b) adjusting dispersion mixture to pH from 5-9; and, c) extracting fatty acid from dispersion carrier mixture into solvent immiscible with polar carrier, obtaining fatty acid solution and aqueous raffinate having lactic acid and fatty acid lactylate. Polar carrier has from 70-100 wt. % of water and from 0-30 wt. % of one or more miscible, polar co-solvents. Aqueous raffinate may be further processed by: i) acidifying raffinate to pH from 0-3; and, either ii)a) allowing acidified raffinate to separate into two layers and separating lower, aqueous layer from residual layer of acyl lactylate, or ii)b) extracting fatty acid lactylate from acidified raffinate into second solvent which is immiscible with aqueous raffinate, obtaining an acyl lactylate solution.

A method for separation of fatty acid from a mixture having fatty acid, the corresponding acyl lactylate and lactic acid, method having steps of: a) providing dispersion of mixture in polar carrier; b) adjusting dispersion mixture to pH from 5-9; and, c) extracting fatty acid from dispersion carrier mixture into solvent immiscible with polar carrier, obtaining fatty acid solution and aqueous raffinate having lactic acid and fatty acid lactylate. Polar carrier has from 70-100 wt. % of water and from 0-30 wt. % of one or more miscible, polar co-solvents. Aqueous raffinate may be further processed by: i) acidifying raffinate to pH from 0-3; and, either ii)a) allowing acidified raffinate to separate into two layers and separating lower, aqueous layer from residual layer of acyl lactylate, or ii)b) extracting fatty acid lactylate from acidified raffinate into second solvent which is immiscible with aqueous raffinate, obtaining an acyl lactylate solution.

The present invention relates to a method of producing linear fatty acids comprising 7 to 28 carbon atoms or esters thereof using a combined biotechnological and chemical method. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of producing dodecanoic acid (i.e. lauric acid), via higher alkanones, preferably 6-undecanone.

The present invention relates to a method of producing linear fatty acids comprising 7 to 28 carbon atoms or esters thereof using a combined biotechnological and chemical method. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of producing dodecanoic acid (i.e. lauric acid), via higher alkanones, preferably 6-undecanone.

The present invention relates to a method of producing linear fatty acids comprising 7 to 28 carbon atoms or esters thereof using a combined biotechnological and chemical method. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of producing dodecanoic acid (i.e. lauric acid), via higher alkanones, preferably 6-undecanone.