Synthesis of Glycine Using Two-Step Reaction Approach in Alcohol and its Purification

Abstract

A two-step reaction approach in alcohol, which comprised a step of monochoroacetic acid reacting with ammonia and a step of the resulted ammonium monochloroacetate reacting with ammonia in presence of urotropine as catalyst, was employed to synthesize glycine. Operating conditions for synthesizing glycine and for purifying glycine product were investigated through intensive experimental approach. The optimal operating conditions for the whole process including synthesis and purification of glycine were obtained and tested. Under such conditions, for methanol as reaction media and for methanol aqueous solution as separating agent, the glycine product yield reaches 92.9% with a purity of 99.7%, whereas for methanol as reaction media and for ethanol aqueous solution as separating agent, the glycine product yield is 89.5% with a purity of 98.6%.