L-lactic Acid Preparation Molecular Distillation

  In the industry, molecular distillation
technology is frequently used. The three types of lactic acid—dextrorotatory D-lactic acid, racemic lactic acid, and levorotatory L-lactic acid—are based on spin differences. Lactic acid is also referred to as α-hydroxypropionic acid. One type of organic acid that has many applications is lactic acid, which is used in food, medicine, the chemical industry, printing, dyeing, and other industries. The most significant and widely used industrial use is as a monomer in the production of polylactic acid (PLA). The industry regards PLA as one of the most promising new medicinal materials. Its good biodegradability and biocompatibility make it not just a promising substitute for petroleum-based plastics in today’s increasingly depleted petroleum resources. Consequently, it is crucial to produce optically pure L-lactic acid.

  A weak organic acid created during the metabolism of carbohydrates is called lactic acid. It has the chemical formula CH3COOH or C3H6O2. Numerous fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods naturally contain it. The process of separating a mixture of gases or liquids by allowing the vapors to evaporate and condense at a steady pressure and temperature is known as molecular distillation. Using this technique, combinations including other substances can be converted into pure lactic acid. The distillate is gathered and condensed into a liquid, which can be used to make food, medicines, and other industrial goods, as well as saved and kept for other uses.

  Enzyme catalysis, chemical synthesis, and microbial fermentation are all methods that can yield lactic acid. Microbial fermentation is the primary method of production used in large-scale production. It can produce lactic acid from the hydrolysate of cellulose, starch, and other renewable resources as raw materials, and by using different strains of bacteria, it can produce optically pure L-lactic acid, D-lactic acid, or mixtures of the two with low production costs, high safety, and low environmental pollution. Heat-resistant Bacillus coagulans can ferment L-lactic acid to an optically pure state. It can also achieve open fermentation at temperatures as high as 45–60°C, which significantly lowers the risk of stray bacterial contamination during the fermentation process and guarantees the high optical purity of the product. Furthermore, Bacillus coagulans can be economically produced through large-scale fermentation and have modest nutritional requirements.

  With a high residual sugar index of approximately 0.5% in the fermentation broth at the end, the current large-scale L-lactic acid fermentation production process will result in lower yields, higher energy consumption, and lower physical and chemical indexes of the product during extraction. Thus, it is very important to develop a low-cost, high-efficiency, and ecologically friendly method for making L-lactic acid. A novel approach to generating premium L-lactic acid is offered by the molecular distillation process
of a concentrated solution containing L-lactic acid. A coating that fell on the concentrated solution containing L-lactic acid initially dehydrated it. and after that, L-lactic acid was produced with a product yield of more than 90% and a purity of more than 95% using a molecular distillation apparatus.

Molecular distillation benefits

1. High purity: Lactic acid can be successfully separated from other components in the mixed solution using molecular distillation, an extremely effective separation technique. It is possible to create high-purity L-lactic acid that satisfies the stringent purity criteria of several sectors by managing the distillation conditions.

2. Extremely controllable: During the molecular distillation process, the pressure and temperature may be precisely adjusted as needed. Because of its controllability, molecular distillation can be applied to a wide range of raw materials and process requirements, and it can adapt to meet the demands of various production scales and kinds.

3. Energy conservation and environmental preservation: Molecular distillation uses less energy and has less of an adverse effect on the environment than more conventional separation methods like extraction and crystallization. It uses a closed system to operate, which lowers the amount of hazardous gases released. In addition, it can increase the efficiency of energy use by recycling the heat energy produced during the evaporation process.

4. great production efficiency: Molecular distillation is a constantly run separation process, making achieving great production efficiency possible. It can significantly increase production efficiency and lower production costs because of its high processing capacity and quick processing time.

Molecular distillation in practice

1. Biopharmaceuticals: L-lactic acid is a crucial raw ingredient and intermediary in the biopharmaceuticals industry. High-purity L-lactic acid can be produced via molecular distillation purification, and this acid can then be utilized to make a variety of medications and biological products, including lactate medicines and biodegradable materials.

2. Food industry: As a food acidifier, preservative, and additive, lactic acid is widely utilized in the food industry. To guarantee the quality and safety of food products, high-grade L-lactic acid can be obtained using molecular distillation purification.

3. Cosmetics: Skincare and personal care products that include L-lactic acid are crucial. To improve the stability and efficacy of cosmetic compositions, pure L-lactic acid can be obtained through purification by molecular distillation.

4. Medical devices: L-lactic acid
is frequently utilized in the manufacturing of biodegradable polymers for use in medical devices. High-purity L-lactic acid, with improved biocompatibility and degradability, can be created via molecular distillation purification and used to prepare biodegradable sutures, stent repair materials, etc.

  TOPTION is a one-stop shop for solutions, with a focus on the creation, manufacturing, and production of distillation apparatus. Molecular distillation, stainless steel reactors, scraping (thin) film evaporators, supercritical extraction, temperature control equipment, and drying equipment are among our principal products. We have been offering the chemical and biopharmaceutical sectors a comprehensive selection of industrial-grade and laboratory equipment for a long time. This equipment covers applications including synthesis, extraction, separation, purification, and drying, and comes with the accompanying technical support. With our excellent quality management system and strong technological capabilities, we can offer specialized services that meet the demands of our clients. Please feel free to contact [email protected]
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