Hydrochloric Acid → L-Ascorbic Acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

L-ascorbic acid is prepared from sodium 2-keto-L-gulonate by introducing gaseous hydrogen chloride in a molar ratio of about 1.5-2.0 to the sodium-2-keto-L-gulonate into a mixture composed of the sodium 2-keto-L-gulonate, ethanol and acetone at a ratio of 1:0.25-1.00:0.5-2.5 by weight at a temperature of about 25°-75° C. until precipitation of sodium chloride ends, removing the precipitated sodium chloride before L-ascorbic acid begins to crystalize out, maintaining the filtrate or supernatant at a temperature of about 25°-75° C. for a period of 5-100 hours and cooling it to yield crystals of L-ascorbic acid as a final product. A solvent inert to the L-ascorbic acid and 2-keto-L-gulonate may be added to the filtrate or supernatant with a favorable result in obtaining purer intended product.

Provenance & Evidence