A method of recovering an organic acid from an aqueous solution may include extracting the organic acid dissolved in the aqueous solution into a water immiscible extraction phase. The water immiscible extraction phase has an extractant for the organic acid. The method may also include separating the extraction phase from the aqueous solution, adding an alcohol to the extraction phase separated from the aqueous solution, and forming an ester from the organic acid and the alcohol.

A method of recovering an organic acid from an aqueous solution may include extracting the organic acid dissolved in the aqueous solution into a water immiscible extraction phase. The water immiscible extraction phase has an extractant for the organic acid. The method may also include separating the extraction phase from the aqueous solution, adding an alcohol to the extraction phase separated from the aqueous solution, and forming an ester from the organic acid and the alcohol.

The current invention relates to a method of isolating polyunsaturated fatty acids containing lipids from a lipids containing biomass comprising a step of demulsification in a continuous reactor.

The current invention relates to a method of isolating polyunsaturated fatty acids containing lipids from a lipids containing biomass comprising a step of demulsification in a continuous reactor.

Provided herein are methods of producing acrylic acid from beta-propiolactone. Such methods may involve the use of a heterogeneous catalyst, such as a zeolite.

Provided herein are methods of producing acrylic acid from beta-propiolactone. Such methods may involve the use of a heterogeneous catalyst, such as a zeolite.

The invention relates to a purification unit (200) which is able to separate crude MMA from light and heavy impurities in order to obtain high quality of MMA, suitable to produce optimal grade polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The unit (200) comprises two distillation columns (210, 250) in series, fed with mixture to be distilled in their median part, in order to separate each column in two upper (213, 253) and lower (212, 252) parts, the first distillation column (210) being fed with crude prewashed MMA, and the second distillation column (250) being fed with distilled liquid stream containing MMA, separated from light impurities, issued from bottom of first distillation column (210). The upper part (213) of first distillation column (210) is connected to a lateral extraction system (220), able to minimize MMA content in light impurities flowing upward said first column (210).

The invention relates to a purification unit (200) which is able to separate crude MMA from light and heavy impurities in order to obtain high quality of MMA, suitable to produce optimal grade polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The unit (200) comprises two distillation columns (210, 250) in series, fed with mixture to be distilled in their median part, in order to separate each column in two upper (213, 253) and lower (212, 252) parts, the first distillation column (210) being fed with crude prewashed MMA, and the second distillation column (250) being fed with distilled liquid stream containing MMA, separated from light impurities, issued from bottom of first distillation column (210). The upper part (213) of first distillation column (210) is connected to a lateral extraction system (220), able to minimize MMA content in light impurities flowing upward said first column (210).

This invention produces technical (meth)acrylic acid without being confronted with problems of fouling of systems to purify the crude reaction mixture of (meth)acrylic acid synthesis, due to the presence of glyoxal formed during synthesis. The invention is based on the addition or generation of quinoline derivative in a glyoxal-containing (meth)acrylic acid flow in a quinoline/glyoxal derivative molar ratio ranging from 0.1 to 5, during the purification steps, said quinoline compound with one of formulas (I) or (II): ##STR00001##
wherein, groups R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 independently denote a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.6, or R.sub.1 et R.sub.2 C-alkyl group combine and together with the atoms to which they are attached, form a saturated or unsaturated ring or heterocycle, preferably a phenyl group, and/or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 combine and with the atoms to which they are attached, form a saturated or unsaturated ring or heterocycle, preferably a phenyl group.

This invention produces technical (meth)acrylic acid without being confronted with problems of fouling of systems to purify the crude reaction mixture of (meth)acrylic acid synthesis, due to the presence of glyoxal formed during synthesis. The invention is based on the addition or generation of quinoline derivative in a glyoxal-containing (meth)acrylic acid flow in a quinoline/glyoxal derivative molar ratio ranging from 0.1 to 5, during the purification steps, said quinoline compound with one of formulas (I) or (II): ##STR00001##
wherein, groups R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 independently denote a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.6, or R.sub.1 et R.sub.2 C-alkyl group combine and together with the atoms to which they are attached, form a saturated or unsaturated ring or heterocycle, preferably a phenyl group, and/or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 combine and with the atoms to which they are attached, form a saturated or unsaturated ring or heterocycle, preferably a phenyl group.