Degussa Aktiengesellschaft

Helmut Suchsland

Volker Hafner

Axel Kleemann

Heinz Kohl

Process for producing ammonium-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butyrate, mixtures containing the same in liquid form and their use. In order to produce ammonium-2-hydroxy-4-methylthio-n-butyrate and mixtures containing the same with a remarkable fluidity and a very low oligomer proportion by a process based on exclusively &ldquo;liquid&rdquo; steps, the reaction mixture is treated with a water-immiscible or partially water-miscible inert solvent, until a first organic extract and a first aqueous raffinate are obtained, and the first organic extract is decomposed into a second organic extract and a second aqueous raffinate by treating it with ammonia and phase separation. Re-extraction of MHA as MHAAS is carried out in the second aqueous raffinate, causing salt formation, and MHAAS is isolated from the second aqueous raffinate. This compound is useful as feedstuff supplement and as methionine substitute.

Process for producing ammonium-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butyrate, mixtures containing the same in liquid form and their use

Process for producing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid (MHA) and its

The invention is directed to a process for the production of iminodiacetonitrile by reaction of hexamethylenetetramine with hydrogen cyanide in acidic aqueous mediums. In this process the pH during the reaction which is 5.5 to 7.5 at the beginning is progressively lowered, altogether around 0.5 to 3.5 units and free formaldehyde is present only to a slight extent. Through this and in contrast to the known processes the formation of byproducts is suppressed and iminodiacetonitrile is produced directly in very good yields and sufficiently pure for further use.

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Rodenbach, Germany

Helmut Suchsland