Synthesis of Hydroxycitric acid

Hydroxycitric acid is prepared by citric acid.

Hydroxycitric acid is obtained by aconitic acid with oxidation, which is obtained by citric acid
with dehydration.

The optimum conditions of aconitic acid and hydroxycitric acid are studied separately.

The optimum condition for aconitic acid is that

- mol citric acid reacts with 56% sulfuric 270 ml to obtain aconitic acid after 7 - hour reflux in
140°C. Its' m. p. is 186°C.

Because waste acid and unreacted citric acid are used cyclically, reclaimed citric acid is 28% and
reclaimed sulfuric acid is 65%.

The optimum condition for hydroxycitric acid is that 2 mol oxidant reacts with 1 mol aconitic
acid in 50 for 7-hour, and obtains hydroxycitric acid, whose yield is about 80%.