Reilly Industries, Inc.

Donald W McQuigg

Edward E Sowers

Eric F Scriven

Gerald L Goe

Ernest Crowe

Susan L Vorhies

James G Keay

Charles R Marston

Gina Fitzpatrick

Heather K Webb

Jin-Ho Seo

Ramiah Murugan

George T Tsao

Martin P Grendze

Eric F V Scriven

Thomas D Bailey

John T Wyeth

Gow-Jen Tsai

Seo Ju Lee

Ganeshkumar Iyer

Katherine M Weisheit

Described are non-swelling, crosslinked, bead forms of ampholytic base polymers that can be utilized in the chromatographic-type separation of acids from other compounds. Preferred polymers are prepared by modifying a poly-2 or poly-4-vinylpyridine resin crosslinked with divinylbenzene.

Crosslinked, non-swellable ampholytic base resins

Described are preferred processes for recovering citric acid from a medium in which it is contained. The citric acid is recovered both effectively and in a form which is readily purifiable. In one preferred process, the citric acid-containing medium is contacted with a solid-phase free base resin having tertiary amine groups to adsorb the citric acid. The citric acid is then desorbed by displacement with a stronger acid, and a citric acid-containing fraction is collected substantially free from contamination by the stronger acid. In another preferred process, a citric acid-containing medium is contacted with a solid-phase divinylbenzene-crosslinked polymer having pyridine or aliphatic tertiary amine functions to adsorb citric acid, the contacting being at a temperature below about 40.degree. C. Adsorbed citric acid is then desorbed with hot H.sub.2 O at a temperature of at least about 75.degree. C. Unnecessary impurities such as those arising from the use of organic solvent or throughput inorganic acid desorbents are thereby avoided while at the same time achieving a commercially attractive recovery of the citric acid. Additional preferred modes and process features are also described.

Processes for recovering citric acid

Described is an improved fermentation process for producing lactic acid. The preferred process is conducted so as to form a fermentation broth containing undissociated lactic acid. The fermentation broth is contacted with an effective amount of solid-phase polymer containing pyridine groups to adsorb and increase rate of production of the free acid.

Process for producing and recovering lactic acid

Described are anion-exchange materials having extraordinarily high affinity for plutonium anions such as plutonium (IV), and technetium anions such as pertechnetate. Preferred inventive resins are highly divinylbenzene-crosslinked polyvinylpyridine resins exhibiting a macroreticular bead form, which have been quaternized to contain a substantial amount of 1-alkyl-pyridinium groups wherein the alkyl group has 4 to 8 carbon atoms. The inventive resins can be used in preferred processes for recovering plutonium and/or technetium anions from aqueous mediums, for example nuclear waste streams or groundwater related to civilian or defense-related nuclear operations.

Polyvinylpyridinium anion-exchangers for recovery of technetium and

Described are anion-exchange materials having extraordinarily high affinity for plutonium anions such as plutonium (IV), and technetium anions such as pertechnetate. Preferred inventive resins are highly divinylbenzene cross-linked polyvinylpyridine resins exhibiting a macroreticular bead form, which have been quaternized to contain a substantial amount of 1-alkyl-pyridinium groups wherein the alkyl group has 4 to 8 carbon atoms. The inventive resins can be used in preferred processes for recovering plutonium and/or technetium anions from aqueous mediums, for example nuclear waste streams or groundwater related to civilian or defense-related nuclear operations.

Described is a process for recovering phytic acid or phytic acid salt from a medium in which it is contained. This process includes contacting the medium with a solid-phase free base polymer having tertiary amine functions to adsorb the phytic acid or salt thereof. In one preferred mode, the medium to be treated also contains lactic acid, and separate fractions predominant in (i) lactic acid and (ii) phytic acid or phytic acid salt, respectively, are recovered. Also described are preferred processes for treating mediums to recover lactic acid therefrom, and a favored process for obtaining inositol directly by hydrolyzing phytic acid or phytic acid salt while adsorbed on a pyridine-containing polymer.

Process for recovering phytic acid, lactic acid or inositol

Described are preferred monomers including a vinylbenzyl moiety N-bonded to an alkylaminopyridinyl or pyridylimidazolyl function. Also described are preferred acid salts of such monomers. Additionally, preferred processes involving and resins formed from these preferred monomers are described. The preferred resins are highly selective for valuable heavy metal ions such as copper and demonstrate superior iron rejection values.

Highly selective chelating resins and monomers for their preparation

A cross-linked polymer-supported 4-(N-benzyl-N-methylamino) pyridine material and process for its preparation in high yield and having effective physical and catalytic properties. The polymer-supported catalyst is characterized by the suspension copolymerization of an organic phase containing the corresponding vinyl-substituted pyridine monomer, a styrene monomer, and a suitable cross-linking agent and free radical-generating catalyst in the presence of an aqueous phase containing a cellulose ether derivative as the stabilizing agent. The catalyst is further characterized by its yield in excess of 90% by weight and by its predominant and generally spherical and smooth bead form and substantially uniform size that is efficiently hard and durable and possesses sufficient catalytic activity for effective use in acylation, alkylation or other related reactions.

Polymer-supported 4-(N-benzyl-N-methylamino)pyridine catalyst and

A cross-linked polymer-supported 4-(N-benzyl-N-methylamino) pyridine material and process for its preparation in high yield and having effective physical and catalytic properties. The polymer supported catalyst is characterized by the suspension copolymerization of an organic phase containing the corresponding vinyl-substituted pyridine monomer, a styrene monomer, and a suitable cross-linking agent and free radical-generating catalyst in the presence of an aqueous phase containing a cellulose ether derivative as the stabilizing agent. A purified acid salt of the vinyl-substituted pyridine monomer useful in polymerizations and stable for storage as either a solid or an aqueous solution.

4-(N-benzyl-N-methylamino)pyridine acid salts and use in preparation of

A cross-linked polymer-supported 4-(N-benzyl-N-methylamino) pyridine material and process for its preparation in high yield and having effective physical and catalytic properties. The polymer-supported catalyst is characterized by the suspension copolymerization of an organic phase containing the corresponding vinyl-substituted pyridine monomer, a styrene monomer, and a suitable cross-linking agent and free radical-generating catalyst in the presence of an aqueous phase containing a cellulose ether derivative as the stabilizing agent. A purified acid salt of the vinyl-substituted pyridine monomer useful in polymerizations and stable for storage as either a solid or an aqueous solution.

A cross-linked polymer-supported 4-(N-benzyl-N-methylamino) pyridine material and process for its preparation in high yield and having effective physical and catalytic properties. The polymer-supported catalyst is characterizd by the suspension copolymerization of an organic phase containing the corresponding vinyl-substituted pyridine monomer, a styrene monomer, and a suitable cross-linking agent and free radical-generating catalyst in the presence of an aqueous phase containing a cellulose ether derivative as the stabilizing agent. The catalyst is further characterized by its yield in excess of 90% by weight and by its predominant and generally spherical and smooth bead form and substantially uniform size that is efficiently hard and durable and possesses sufficient catalytic activity for effective use in acylation, alkylation or other related reactions.

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Mooresville, IN, United States of America

Donald W McQuigg