OXALIC ACID FROM MOLASSES
[EIRI/EDPR/1107] (J.C. 9752)
INTRODUCTION
Oxalic acid is the simplest of dicarboxylic acid. Its name is derived from the Greek Oxyes meaning sharp, acidic serfering to the acidity common in the foloage of certain plants from which it was first isolated. Oxalic acid is commercially available as the de-hydrate containing 28.5% water. Anhydrous acid is shombic, hypyramidical, odorless and white in colour. De-hydrate is a monoclinic prism, particles size varying from fine powder to coarse granules which are also colorless, melting point 187oC of anhydrous form and 101.5oC of dihydrate form.
Oxalic acid (OA) HOOC-COOH, is one of the most widespread organic acid in plants. Large amounts of OA contain such vegetables as sorrel, rhubarb, spinach, beets, chicory, abbages, cucumbers and potatoes. OA is also produced in human organism as a product of metabolism, which is excreted with urine. Nevertheless, oxalic acid belongs to toxic ingredients of groceries. Binding metals causes symptoms of calcium deficiency. Moreover, calcium oxalate conglomerating in ureter gives symptoms of nephrolithiasis. Oxalic acid in spite of its toxic action in a human body emerges as a valuable chemical finding various applications. Oxalic acid and its salts are employed as: fiber-bleaching agents, reagents in chemical analyses, in manufacture of dyestuffs for cloth, in: refining of rare metal and leaching of heavy metals from several minerals. It is also used in cleaning powder as a rusteliminating agent and metal polisher
Moreover, OA is also used in food production. A study investigating possible alternatives to sulphites for use as antibrowning agents on fruits and vegetables have shown that oxalic acid has strong antibrowning activity. Comparing the relative antibrowning effectiveness of oxalic acid with other common antibrowning agents, oxalic acid was as effective as kojic acid and more potent than cysteine and glutathione. Apart from above mentioned applications, oxalic acid is used in food processing as a stabilizer improving flavor perception and as a clarification agent. The oxalic acid process gave slightly better removal of chlorophylls, phaeophytins and lower free fatty acid concentration than the activated C process. Furthermore, unsaponifiable matter of oil clarified with oxalic acid showed higher antioxidative activity than that of oil clarified with activated carbon. Finally, oxalic acid finds application in manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and in biotechnological process as e.g. Ca2+ reducing agent in beet molasses media.
Oxalic acid is biologically produced using fungus of Aspergillus genus. OA production appears to be easier to achieve by chemical methods, but the use of this product in food processing and as pharmaceuticals’ ingredient causes justifiable reluctances.
The aim of this work was to check the possibility of oxalic acid production by biochemical methods using Aspergillus niger strains and beet molasses as a carbon and energy source in order to verify opinions that organic wastes as molasses are not suitable for oxalic acid production.
In the series of experiments in order to increase the amount of oxalic acid, medium composition was optimized using different chemical additives to enrich or control molasses medium content. The results showed that a significant effect on OA formation revealed a potassium ferrocyanide dose and a selection of molasses samples increasing final product formation in the range 4.2 to 18.8 g dm-3 and 5.1-18.8 g dm-3 respectively, depending on strain.
The significantly better results were achieved by manipulation of process conditions, mainly by maintaining higher oxygenation level during the whole process of fermentation. Using four strains of Aspergillus niger and lower partial oxygen tension the final OA concentration varied dependably on strain activity from 11.1 up to 23.3 g dm-3. However, high oxygen concentration allowed obtaining as high of OA concentration as 38.7 g dm-3.
Oxalic acid finds applications as automobile radiator, cleaner, general metal and equipment cleaning purifying agent and intermediate for many compounds in leather canning, in bleaching of textiles stripping agent for permanent press resins etc.
This report based on the manufacture of oxalic acid from molasses.
COST ESTIMATION
Plant Capacity 5 MT/Day
Land & Building (2000 sq.mt.) Rs. 1.79 Cr
Plant & Machinery Rs. 1.27 Cr
Working Capital for 3 Months Rs. 4.10 Cr
Total Capital Investment Rs. 7.53 Cr
Rate of Return 43%
Break Even Point 44%
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
USED AND APPLICATIONS
END USE PATTERN OF OXALIC ACID
PROPERTIES
B.I.S. SPECIFICATIONS
1. SCOPE
2. REQUIREMENTS
3. PACKING & MARKING
TABLE I: REQUIREMENTS FOR OXALIC ACID TECHNICAL AND ANALYTICAL
REAGENT
4. SAMPLING
APPENDIX 'A': ANALYSIS OF OXALIC ACID, TECHNICAL AND ANALYTICAL
REAGENT
A-1 QUALITY OF REAGENTS
A-2 PREPARED SOLUTION
A-3 DETERMINATION OF OXALIC ACID CONTENT
A-4 DETERMINATION OF SULPHATED ASH
A-5 TEST FOR CHLORIDES
A-6 TEST FOR SULPHATE
A-7 TEST FOR HEAVY METALS
A-8 TEST FOR NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
A-9 TEST FOR IRON
A-10 DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM
APPENDIX 'B': SAMPLING OF OXALIC ACID, TECHNICAL AND ANALYTICAL REAGENT
B-1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF SAMPLING:-
B-2 SCALE OF SAMPLING
TABLE II: NUMBER OF CONTAINERS TO BE SELECTED FROM A LOT
B-3 PREPARATION OF TEST SAMPLES:
B-4 NUMBER OF TESTS
RAW MATERIAL POSITION
MOLASSES
SUGAR FACTORIES IN OPERATION IN INDIA STATEWISE
MARKET SURVEY
PRESENT MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS OF MOLASSES
MANUFACTURING DIAGRAM
MANUFACTURE OF OXALIC ACID FROM SODIUM FORMATE
REACTION
MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS
MANUFACTURING PROCESS
MANUFACTURE OF OXALIC ACID FROM CARBOHYDRATE
REACTION
PROCESS
MANUFACTURE OF OXALIC ACID FROM MOLASSES
REACTION
RAW MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS
PROCESS
PROCESS LOSSES IN VARIOUS SECTIONS DURING OXALIC ACID MANUFACTURE
PLAN LAYOUT
OXALIC ACID PRODUCTION BY ASPERGILLUS NIGER: AN OXALATE-NON-PRODUCING MUTANT PRODUCES CITRIC ACID AT PH 5 AND IN THE PRESENCE OF MANGANESE
METHODS
NIGER STRAINS, ISOLATION OF MUTANTS, LINKAGE ANALYSIS AND TRANSFORMATION OF A. NIGER
MEDIA AND CULTURE CONDITIONS
PREPARATION OF CELL EXTRACTS AND ENZYME ASSAYS
PURIFICATION OF OAH
ANALYTICAL METHODS
RESULTS
PHYSIOLOGY OF OXALIC ACID PRODUCTION BY A. NIGER
VIEW LARGER VERSION (17K):
PROPERTIES OF OAH
ACID PRODUCTION BY AN ACS (ACUA) MUTANT
IDENTIFICATION OF AN OXALATE-NON-PRODUCING MUTANT
DISCUSSION
SUPPLIERS OF PLANT AND MACHINERY
REACTORS
CHEMICAL PLANT MACHINERY
CRYSTALLISES
DRYERS
EVAPORATIORS
STORAGE TANKS
BOILERS
SUPPLIERS OF RAW MATERIALS
NITRIC ACID
VANADIUM PENTOXIDE
FERRIC IRON
APPENDIX – A:
01. PLANT ECONOMICS
02. LAND & BUILDING
03. PLANT AND MACHINERY
04. OTHER FIXED ASSESTS
05. FIXED CAPITAL
06. RAW MATERIAL
07. SALARY AND WAGES
08. UTILITIES AND OVERHEADS
09. TOTAL WORKING CAPITAL
10. TOTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT
11. COST OF PRODUCTION
12. TURN OVER/ANNUM
13. BREAK EVEN POINT
14. RESOURCES FOR FINANCE
15. INSTALMENT PAYABLE IN 5 YEARS
16. DEPRECIATION CHART FOR 5 YEARS
17. PROFIT ANALYSIS FOR 5 YEARS
18. PROJECTED BALANCE SHEET FOR (5 YEARS)
