METHOD OF TREATING REACTION MIXTURE DURING SORBOSE ACETONATION Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: agriculture. SUBSTANCE: claimed method comprises neutralizing reaction mixture during sorbose acetonation with alkaline agent and subsequently demineralizing said mixture. Alkaline agent includes aqueous potassium hydroxide solution and demineralization is carried out quantitatively by direct crystallization of potassium sulfide resulting from aqueous acetone solution. Differences in the nature of sodium and potassium cations make potassium sulfate insoluble in aqueous acetone medium and leads to complete deminiralization of reaction mixture. This enables one to improve quality of the desired product such as diacetone-L-sorbose, to exclude additional stage of processing aqueous solution of mineral salts, removing water and separating them from monoacetone-L-sorbose solution. Use of potassium hydroxide for neutralization of reaction mixture in placed of potassium hydroxide solution makes it possible to prepare as one of products commercial potassium sulfate which is more preferable ecologically since potassium sulfate is in great demand as potassium fertilizer in agriculture. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency. 1 ex, 1 tbl